Hawaiian Electric lifts call for Big Island energy conservation issued in March

Big Island electricity customers can resume their normal use.

Hawaiian Electric reports generation margins have returned to levels where conservation is no longer necessary and lifted its March 25 call for energy conservation.

The company’s Keahole CT-5 unit is online ahead of schedule following a major maintenance overhaul. In addition, the company’s Puna steam unit and Kanoelehua CT-1 unit were repaired and are back online. Combined, these units can generate up to 53 megawatts.

The company and independent power producer Hāmākua Energy continue to troubleshoot and repair out-of-service generating units.

Hawaiian Electric asked residential and business customers toward the end of March to conserve electricity because of the unavailability of several large generators and cautioned that rolling outages might be needed.

Each of the state’s island must stand alone without backup from other islands, so the company plans maintenance to allow for contingencies.

The system was able to meet demand with the remaining sources, including wind, geothermal and the solar plus battery plant. However, multiple concurrent unplanned outages resulted in a shortfall April 14.

“We appreciate everyone’s efforts to use less electricity, especially during the early evening hours,” said Hawaiian Electric spokesperson Kristen Okinaka. “We realize it was inconvenient and frustrating for many, and we apologize. Our customers made a difference, and we were able to prevent additional shortfalls with their help.”

Large businesses — including hotels and retailers, as well as government agencies — made a significant impact by voluntarily reducing their electricity use and implementing conservation measures, including adjusting lighting and temperature controls, turning off lights and air conditioning in unoccupied areas and modifying water pumping.