Update: Hawaiian Electric initiates rolling outages throughout Big Island

7:30 p.m. Feb. 13 update: Hawaiian Electric has initiated rolling outages on Hawaiʻi Island tonight due to the unavailability or reduced output of several large generators. In addition, wind and hydro resources are near zero.

The emergency outages are being initiated in various areas around the entire island to prevent loss of power to an even greater number of customers. The timing and extent of the outages will depend on the amount of demand on the system and the availability of generators.

Independent power producer Hamakua Energy unexpectedly tripped offline late this afternoon and Puna Geothermal Venture is operating at a reduced capacity. Hawaiian Electric’s combustion turbine CT-1 unexpectedly tripped offline this evening. Its Hill Plant Unit No. 5, Keahole CT-5, and Puna Steam Plant also are unavailable due to planned annual maintenance or repairs. Wind resources, which help meet demand at night, also are near zero.

Updates will be posted on X (formerly Twitter) @HIElectricLight.

Original post: Hawaiian Electric is asking residential and business customers on Hawai‘i Island to reduce their electricity use tonight, especially from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. when electricity use is highest.

Conservation helps ensure that enough power is available for all customers. Suggestions for conservation include turning off air conditioners and unneeded lighting, shutting off water heaters and pumps, and delaying activities like cooking, showering, laundry, and dishwashing until late in the evening.

The request for conservation is prompted by the unavailability or reduced output of several large generators. Electricity on the island is generated by a combination of Hawaiian Electric facilities, independent producers who use wind, solar, geothermal and conventional generation to make power to sell to the utility, and about 17,000 rooftop solar systems.

Independent power producer Hamakua Energy unexpectedly tripped offline late this afternoon and Puna Geothermal Venture is operating at a reduced capacity. In addition, Hawaiian Electric’s Hill Plant Unit No. 5, Keahole CT-5, and Puna Steam Plant are unavailable due to planned annual maintenance or repairs. Wind resources, which help meet demand at night, also are forecast to be zero.

If another large generator were to unexpectedly trip offline or if wind and solar resources suddenly drop, brief rolling outages may be initiated in various areas around the entire island to prevent a loss of power to an even greater number of customers. The impacted areas and the timing of the outages are based on the amount of electric demand that needs to be reduced. Customers are asked to plan for outages lasting between 30 and 60 minutes. Updates will be posted on X (formerly Twitter) @HIElectricLight.