Updated at 6:39 p.m., Thursday, February 1, 2007
HECO says blackouts won't be needed
Advertiser Staff
Hawaiian Electric Co. spokeswoman Lynne Unemori said it appears the power company won't have to cut power to any homes on Oahu.Unemori said at 6:40 p.m. that it appeared they would be able to pass the peak evening hours without resorting to rolling blackouts.
She said HECO is still monitoring the situation.
Earlier today HECO asked O'ahu residents to cut back their electricity use and warned that rolling blackouts may be necessary beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Areas that HECO had designated to shut off power were Windward O'ahu, Waialua and surrounding areas and East Honolulu from Kahala to Waimanalo.
About 50,000 customers could have been affected by the rolling blackouts.
Hospitals would not lose power.
Peak power demand is from 5 to 9 p.m., HECO said. HECO asked people to cut power usage by putting off washing clothes and using dishwashers, and turning off air conditioners, lights and other fixtures that are not needed.
HECO said three of its generating units are off-line for planned maintenance. In addition, one of HECO's independent power producers, AES, experienced a problem which is causing it to operate at lower than normal capacity.
In addition, generators at Kahe are running at lower than normal capacity because recent southwest winds have sent seagrass into ocean intake valves that serve the plant's cooling system.
