Updated at 5:43 p.m., Thursday, March 1, 2007
Lightning damage affects Kaua'i power supply
Advertiser Staff
A lightning storm last weekend caused significant damage to the power distribution system on Kaua'i, resulting in a string of power failures that continued for a week.The Kaua'i Island Utility Co-op reported that it suffered several cases of equipment being damaged by lightning on Feb. 23 and 24.
An underground distribution circuit splice that had been damaged by lightning-caused surges failed this morning, cutting off power in the Wailua area.
On Monday, when a lightning-damaged transmission line insulator caused a pole fire in Kapaia Valley, it knocked the KIUC Lydgate Substation off line, causing outages.
During the storm last week, seven distribution transformers in the Lihu'e and Kapa'a areas were affected. That and other impacts from the storm caused blackouts on Kaua'i's North Shore Friday night and on the east side of the island Saturday.
The utility said it is still working to make repairs.
