Update #5: Power expected to be restored to 70% of downtown Honolulu customers by tonight
Release Date: 12/7/2021
HONOLULU, Dec. 7, 2021 – Hawaiian Electric expects to restore power to about 70% of its customers in downtown Honolulu tonight.
Repairs to the second of three transformers at the Iwilei substation were completed sooner than anticipated and power to about a dozen office buildings is expected to be restored tonight. This is in addition to buildings, including the State Capitol, restored earlier Tuesday.
Crews are also continuing to work on replacing a 300-foot section of high-voltage underground cable that was damaged by flooding. Once testing on the replacement cable is complete, additional customers may be restored.
All customers are expected to have their service restored Wednesday.
“While this is great progress, there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done in order for us to get all customers back,” said Jim Alberts, senior vice president of operations. “The fact that many were able to get restored faster than expected is a testament to our employees’ dedication to our customers, even under the most difficult conditions.”
Besides the wet and muddy conditions caused by the storm, crews are faced with an especially challenging environment due to the limited work space inside the manholes. Work will continue through the night until the repairs are completed.
