KIUC's Rate Case - Kauai Island Utility Cooperative

Is Your Home Protected?
By Ray Mierta
Power Surges On Kaua‘i
It used to be our homes were filled with basic appliances
that consisted of motors and lights. New appliances are
both energy efficient and more expensive. They also are
more complex than they used to be.
The very components that give us the reliability, low
operating cost and improved performance we are used to
also are sensitive to minor variances in the quality of the
electricity that powers them.
4 KIUC CURRENTS
Power Surges From Internal Sources
Microprocessors—virtually a component of every
appliance and device today—are sensitive to small
fluctuations in power quality. Low-level surges or spikes
that originate from within our homes caused by
appliances turning on and off cause stress on these
circuits and can lead to early failure.
To the repair technician, it is difficult to determine what
caused the failure and if it occurred over time from
internal sources. It often is dismissed as
being the result of a power surge.
Invariably, a call is placed to Kaua‘i Island
Utility Cooperative (KIUC).
Power Surges From External
Sources
On the mainland, weather is a big cause of
power surges. Lightning strikes,
thunderstorms, pre-tornado conditions and
near misses from hurricanes can wreak
havoc on the power system, producing
surges.
Storms—not KIUC—are the biggest cause of
power surges on Kaua‘i. Wind and lightning
strikes can affect power lines, generating
surges of varying intensity. Contact by birds
and debris in overhead power lines can
generate damaging surges, as well as
accidents involving power poles.