An unexpected power outage plunged hundreds of Rarotonga residents into darkness for almost an hour last night.

The power outage at 6.55pm affected customers in the Nikao (backroad), Arorangi, Titikaveka, Ngatangiia Matavera, Tupapa and Town area, Te Aponga Uira said in a statement.

As at 7.50pm, the power was fully restored to all customers affected, the electricity provider said.

The power outage comes just days after Te Aponga Uira (TAU) announced it had completed a major infrastructure project to benefit Rarotonga.

In a statement released on Friday, TAU said it had completed its major project to replace critical infrastructure (generation switch gear) in its generation site in Avatiu valley, aimed at strengthening the reliability of the electricity supply for Rarotonga.

The project began in 2019 and has involved careful planning and management including three planned outages to Rarotonga in recent weeks.

“No further outages are planned for this project,” the statement said.

“TAU strives to provide reliable electricity to all customers 24/7 however planned and unplanned outages due to upgrades and other events do occur occasionally. As is our current practice, we will notify you about events through Facebook, our website and if time allows, via the traditional media platforms.”

By replacing aging equipment that has served the island for over 30 years, TAU said it had significantly bolstered its infrastructure's reliability and resilience. “Switchgear, as a key component of electricity distribution hardware, plays a pivotal role in connecting generation to demand. TAU operates two switch rooms that are integral to delivering a consistent and dependable electricity supply across Rarotonga.”

TAU also said it was not liable for any loss, damage, or inconvenience resulting from a failure of electricity supply.

“If you are concerned about the potential impact on your appliances due to power surges, we recommend considering surge protectors. We also suggest switching off such appliances during planned outages and serious weather events.”