The intermittent power outages being experienced on Upolu are because of an unstable power supply, said the Electronic Power Corporation.

It was also revealed that it would be next year when the parts for the generators at the various power stations may arrive, which has cost EPC $10 million.

“The current outage is mainly due to solar power fluctuations, which triggered under-frequency protection, resulting in power interruptions to some feeders. This action is taken to prevent a total system collapse,” said EPC general manager Faumui Iese Toimoana.

Faumui said Engine No.1 was still down at the Fiaga Power Plant and Engine No.3 had been taken out of operation for routine checks and maintenance.

Engine No.3 was expected to return to normal operation on late Wednesday. The three diesel generators at Fiaga provide 40 per cent coverage for the total demand form power on Upolu.

“A mechanical fault occurred that required a part replacement. These parts take about 10 months to procure,” said Faumui.

“We have already placed orders for the parts needed for the diesel generator overhauls, but they take 12–15 months to manufacture.

“EPC has already addressed the power rationing issue. However, power rationing is different from power stability, which is currently affecting the system and is something we are actively working to address.”

Areas located within the West Feeder of the EPC power grid have been facing power cuts. Businesses said they were affected. Some said they had to close early because their businesses relied on electricity.

While there are plans to move to renewable energy and expand the power output to meet the increasing demand for power, EPC said it would take time.

“You have to be mindful that these developments require a lot of planning and detailed design, as they can negatively impact the stability of the system if not done correctly,” Faumui said.

The parts that cost $10 million in total have to be manufactured and it is done on order. Five generators have been rented at $1.1 million for six months from New Zealand for a temporary solution. The generators arrived in April and under the current contract would be in the country until some time in October.