HONOLULU (KHON2) -- Hawaiian Electric customers around Oahu are advised to conserve energy and prepare for rolling power outages starting at 6 p.m.
The rolling outages are a result of "the unexpected loss of the largest independently-owned power plant on the island."
HECO reported that a 208-megawatt Kalaeloa Partners plant went offline around 1 a.m. on Wednesday after an underground pipe ruptured.
Crews are working to restart other generating units 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."
Officials said the following areas will experience 30-minute outages if needed:
- 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
- Kakaʻako
- Sections of Kahala
- Sections of Kaimuki and Kapahulu
- Majority of Kaimuki, sections of Kapiʻolani Boulevard and Waikiki
- University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa campus, Mānoa
- Nuʻuanu and School Street area
According to HECO, downtown, Chinatown and Hawaii Kai are not included in the rotation due to recent large outages in those areas.