Hawaiian Electric Company crews are continuing to work on restoring power to Oahu customers who suffered outages during today's heavy rain and gusting winds.
As of 4:30 p.m., approximately 1,100 customers in Ewa Beach, Waimanalo, Kailua and Kaneohe remain without power. Pockets of customers in other scattered locations may also still be without power and these outages may involve a few homes or a portion of a neighborhood, HECO spokesman Darren Pai said.
"We appreciate the patience and cooperation of our customers affected by today's stormy weather conditions," said Harold Kageura, Hawaiian Electric vice president of energy delivery. "The weather conditions tonight may hamper restoration efforts, however our crews are prepared to work through the night as necessary until every customer is restored."
For those without power during evening hours, Hawaiian Electric offers these important safety tips:
Before calling to report an outage, check home circuit breakers or fuses to help determine if your electric service might be a result of a household problem.
Turn off as many lights or appliances as possible – leaving one light switched "on" so you know when power is restored – and unplug computers, televisions and other high-tech equipment to avoid damage from a surge as power is restored.
During a power outage use flashlights instead of candles as an open flame may create a fire hazard.
Those using portable generators should be careful to run the equipment only in a well ventilated area and keep fuel away from open flames. As a general rule, don't plug the generator into your household electrical outlets and be sure to carefully follow the instructions in the manufacturer's manual. Do plug your equipment or appliance directly into the generator and make sure the wattage requirements of the appliance don't exceed the capacity of your generator or extension cord.
Don't use charcoal or other fossil fuels to cook with indoors, as they create deadly fumes (carbon monoxide) in enclosed spaces.
During a power outage, a fully-stocked free-standing freezer will keep most of your foods frozen for up to 72 hours – if you don't open the door. Resist the urge to peek inside to see if the food is still frozen. Each time you open the door, cold air gets out. The freezer section of a refrigerator-freezer will keep most of your foods frozen 10 to 24 hours. Try not to open the freezer door during an outage as you'll let the cold air escape.
If you're preparing to leave your home, unplug or turn off appliances.
If a member of your household is on life-sustaining electrical equipment, you should have an emergency plan for an outage. If you need emergency transportation to a hospital or other facilities with emergency generators, call 911.
When moving around outside, stay away from downed power lines. Assume they are energized and dangerous. If you see someone injured after touching a downed power line, call 911 for help; don't try to rescue them as you could become a victim yourself. Report downed power lines by calling Hawaiian Electric at 548-7961.
If your immediate neighbors have power restored, but you're still without power, call Hawaiian Electric at 548-7961.
Keep these important phone numbers handy: Customer Service inquiries: 548-7311
Trouble Line: 548-7961
Emergency: 911
