Frayed electric company cable caused Kauai power outage

LIHUE, Kauai — A frayed 17-year-old cable was to blame for a widespread power outage on Kauai.

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative discovered the cause Monday and plans to repair the cable by Friday.

The worn cable was connected to the company’s largest collection of generators that serves about 33,000 customers, said CEO David Bissell.

As a result, an almost three-hour outage left many without power on Kauai, which has a population of about 72,000 people, the company said in a statement.

Several other units were down at its Port Allen generation station for scheduled maintenance, but repairs are delayed until custom-made replacement parts can be shipped from the mainland.

“Logistics out here in the middle of the ocean can always go haywire,” Bissell said. “We’re hopeful but cautious.”

A newly functioning diesel generator should supplement some power until repairs are complete, but consumers are still encouraged to conserve energy. Limiting use of heavy appliances such as washers and dryers and setting air conditioners to higher temperatures would be helpful, according to a report.

Uncooperative weather could slow the repair process.

“Mother nature hasn’t helped us,” Bissell said. “Our crews are working hard to bring our generation units back on line safely and quickly.”

Kauai last had a major power outage in November 2018 because of a technical problem at the utility cooperative.