Representative Diamond Garcia Condemns Hawaiian Electric’s Upcoming Rolling Power Outages This Evening

News release from Office of Representative Diamond Garcia, July 31, 2024

Honolulu, HI – Representative Diamond Garcia (R-Kapolei, Ho'opili, Ewa Villages) is calling out Hawaiian Electric’s (HECO) announcement of the upcoming rolling power outages scheduled for this evening across O'ahu. He asserts that these outages are a direct consequence of Hawaii's political leadership pushing an agenda centered around 100% renewable energy without ensuring a reliable transition plan.

"Hawaiian Electric's rolling blackouts are outrageous and unacceptable," stated Representative Garcia. "This is the result of our state's political leaders hastily shutting down essential coal power plants to appease radical globalists, without securing a viable and sustainable alternative energy source."

In his previous press release (Jan 2024), Representative Garcia highlighted the detrimental effects of the Legislature's 2020 decision to ban coal-powered energy production by 2023. The abrupt closure of the West O'ahu coal plant, lacking a clear and sustainable alternative energy plan, has led to repeated rolling blackouts across O'ahu, affecting local families and businesses.

"Shutting down the coal plant without a well-thought-out replacement plan is reckless and jeopardizes our state's energy security," Garcia emphasized. "We are a first-world country. Rolling power outages are NOT acceptable, and we should not be forced to endure them. The people of Hawaii deserve better!"

Garcia further pointed out that similar renewable energy goals in other states and municipalities have also resulted in rolling blackouts. "When you shut down coal plants and force renewables without proper planning, this is what you get. It isn’t 'unforeseen.' Other states with similar policies are facing the same issues."

"Our duty as public servants is to ensure that the people of Hawaii have access to reliable and affordable energy," Garcia concluded. "We cannot sacrifice the well-being of our citizens for political agendas. Hawaiian Electric and our legislative leaders must prioritize a stable and secure energy future for all residents of Hawaii."

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Water Conservation Needed Due to HECO Rolling Power Outages

News release from BWS, July 31, 2024

Wednesday, July 31, 2024, 2:50pm – The BWS has been asked to reduce their pumping capacity in order to lower their electrical demand when pumping water. As such, BWS customers are being asked to conserve water and use only for cooking, drinking, and personal hygiene. Please hold off on non-essential uses such as car washing, watering plants and lawns, and doing laundry until further notice.

For more information on the rolling outages, HECO recommends checking their Facebook page @hawaiianelectric.

For updates from BWS, please check our website at boardofwatersupply.com or our Facebook @bwshonolulu.

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CONSERVATION ALERT: Customers asked to conserve, prepare for rolling outages on Oahu due to plant shutdown

News Release from Hawaiian Electric, 7/31/2024

ONOLULU, July 31, 2024 – Due to a shortage of generation capacity, Hawaiian Electric may be forced to turn off power to selected areas of Oahu beginning at about 6 p.m.

Based on current demand forecasts, Hawaiian Electric will not have sufficient generation during the evening, when customer demand is highest. To balance the amount of generation and demand, customers should prepare for rotating outages in various parts of the island lasting approximately 30 minutes. The duration of any outages may vary depending on the amount of generation available at the time.

The situation is dynamic and Hawaiian Electric will provide regular updates on its social media channels.

The generation shortfall is the result of the unexpected loss of the largest independently-owned power plant on the island. At around 1 a.m., the 208-megawatt plant operated by Kalaeloa Partners suddenly went offline with the rupture of an underground pipe that is necessary for operations. Hawaiian Electric is working on restarting other generating units that have been undergoing maintenance and will rely on solar energy systems, available wind power and battery energy storage systems to help make up the shortfall of generation during the day.

Hawaiian Electric is using companywide resources and working to return generating units to service as soon as possible. Customer conservation will also help. Kalaeloa Partners expects repairs to its plant may take three days. Until those repairs are complete, rotating outages during times of peak demand may be necessary and customers are being asked to reduce their use of electricity, especially during the evening.

If needed, the approximately 30-minute outages will rotate through the following areas in this order:

• Waipahu, sections of Pearl City, Kunia, Ewa Beach
• Waiawa, Crestview, Mililani, Kunia, Waimalu, Upper Kipapa areas
• Pearl City, Waimalu
• Majority of leeward areas
• Lower Kalihi, sections of Upper Kalihi
• Kakaako
• Sections of Kahala
• Sections of Kaimuki and Kapahulu
• Majority of Kaimuki, sections of Kapiolani Boulevard and Waikiki
• University of Hawaii Manoa campus, Manoa
• Nuuanu and School Street area

Because of recent large outages, downtown, Chinatown and Hawaii Kai aren’t included in the outage rotation for July 31.

Customers – including hotels and large commercial customers are being asked to reduce their electricity use as much as possible, especially between 5 and 9 p.m. For residential customers, turning off air conditioners and unneeded lighting, shutting off water heaters and pumps, and shifting activities like cooking, showering, laundry, and dishwashing to the daytime, when solar is abundant, is also recommended.

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5 P.M. UPDATE: Customers asked to conserve, rolling outages on Oahu about 10 p.m.

Additional generation at Kahe Power Plant brought online

News Release from Hawaiian Electric, 7/31/2024 

HONOLULU, July 31, 2024 – Due to a shortage of generation capacity, Hawaiian Electric may be forced to turn off power to selected areas of Oahu beginning about 10 p.m.

Previous demand forecasts predicted insufficient generation earlier in the evening, but Hawaiian Electric crews were able to ramp up additional generation resources at Kahe Power Plant and expect that large-scale battery storage will help provide power to all customers through the evening peak.

To balance the amount of generation and demand, customers should prepare for rotating outages in various parts of the island lasting approximately 30 minutes. The duration of any outages may vary depending on the amount of generation available at the time.

The situation is dynamic and Hawaiian Electric will provide regular updates on its social media channels.

The generation shortfall is the result of the unexpected loss of the largest independently-owned power plant on the island. At around 1 a.m., the 208-megawatt plant operated by Kalaeloa Partners suddenly went offline with the rupture of an underground pipe that is necessary for operations. Hawaiian Electric is working on restarting other generating units that have been undergoing maintenance and has relied on solar energy systems, available wind power and battery energy storage systems to help make up the shortfall of generation during the day.

Hawaiian Electric is using companywide resources and working to return generating units to service as soon as possible. Customer conservation will also help. Kalaeloa Partners expects repairs to its plant may take three days. Until those repairs are complete, rotating outages during times of peak demand may be necessary and customers are being asked to reduce their use of electricity, especially during the evening.

If needed, the approximately 30-minute outages will rotate through the following areas in this order:

• Waipahu, sections of Pearl City, Kunia, Ewa Beach
• Waiawa, Crestview, Mililani, Kunia, Waimalu, Upper Kipapa areas
• Pearl City, Waimalu
• Majority of leeward areas
• Lower Kalihi, sections of Upper Kalihi
• Kakaako
• Sections of Kahala
• Sections of Kaimuki and Kapahulu
• Majority of Kaimuki, sections of Kapiolani Boulevard and Waikiki
• University of Hawaii Manoa campus, Manoa
• Nuuanu and School Street area

Because of recent large outages, downtown, Chinatown and Hawaii Kai aren’t included in the outage rotation for July 31.

Customers – including hotels and large commercial customers – are being asked to reduce their electricity use as much as possible, especially between 5 and 9 p.m. For residential customers, turning off air conditioners and unneeded lighting, shutting off water heaters and pumps, and shifting activities like cooking, showering, laundry, and dishwashing to the daytime, when solar is abundant, is also recommended.

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Hawaiian Electric generation stabilized on Oahu

Thanks customers for their conservation efforts

News Release from Hawaiian Electric, 8/1/2024 

HONOLULU, Aug. 1, 2024 – Hawaiian Electric crews have ramped up additional generation resources and does not anticipate the need for rolling outages today but continues to monitor generation capacity and any changes in customer demand.

The additional generation at Kahe Power Plant compensates for the generation shortfall after yesterday’s unexpected loss of power from Kalaeloa Partners, the largest independently-owned power plant on the island.

"We thank our customers for their patience and support during period of tight generation margins," said Darren Pai, Hawaiian Electric spokesperson. "We’re still monitoring the generation situation, but everyone’s conservation efforts made a significant difference last night.”

Customer conservation, energy storage and energy efficiency programs combined to reduce demand by 40 megawatts last night. This included efforts by large commercial customers, like the Board of Water Supply, that helped reduce the demand for power last night. Hawaiian Electric’s Battery Bonus program provided additional energy from customer-sited batteries.

System operators also reduced the demand for power by activating Hawaiian Electric’s demand response programs. These voluntary programs help lower the overall use of electricity by reducing the energy output of certain appliances or equipment, such as water heaters and air conditioners, for participating residential customers and non-essential lighting and heating or cooling systems for participating commercial customers.

At around 1 a.m. on July 31, the 208-megawatt plant operated by Kalaeloa Partners suddenly went offline with the rupture of an underground pipe that is necessary for operations.

Kalaeloa Partners continues to work on repairs. Hawaiian Electric is closely monitoring generation capacity and working to bring on more generating resources at Kahe and Waiau Power Plant and the Schofield Generating Station. Hawaiian Electric will provide updates on any changes through additional news releases and on its social media channels.

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KHON: Oahu dodges power shutoff, but backup margin issues persist | KHON2

SA: Oahu dodges rolling outages after Kahe plant boost, conservation | Honolulu Star-Advertiser (staradvertiser.com)