Hawaiian Electric urges residents to reduce evening power usage this week
Big Island residents have been asked to conserve energy in the evenings this week.
Hawaiian Electric has advised that Hamakua Energy Providers — the island’s largest independent power provider — is currently “unavailable” and is not producing the 60 megawatts of power it typically generates. In addition, one of Hawaiian Electric’s own power plants is undergoing annual maintenance, creating another 14 megawatt shortfall.
Because of this, Hawaiian Electric has urged residents to conserve energy between 5 and 9 p.m. each night this week. Suggested methods include turning off or reducing lights, delaying showers, laundry and dishwashing and minimizing cooking during the evening hours.
Hawaiian Electric has also asked large commercial providers to reduce their own energy use, and has accelerated its own maintenance and repair schedules. The company has also requested that Puna Geothermal Venture operate at maximum possible output.
Hawaiian Electric currently expects to have enough generating capacity to meet peak demand in the early evenings, and efforts to conserve power can ensure that rolling blackouts will not be necessary. However, if rolling blackouts become necessary, Hawaiian Electric will use social media to notify affected areas in advance.
