Can HECO design a more reliable system?

THE ISSUE The electric company says cutting off power and slow restoration avoided damaging its power structure.

HAWAIIAN Electric Co. can be excused for being unable to communicate better with its customers during Sunday's islandwide blackout since the organizations and agencies that could have transmitted information rely on the power that was cut off.

HECO's defense of shutting down generators to shield its system from extensive damage also appears valid. The company's explanation for why restoring power took so long likewise makes sense.

In the context it presents, HECO's system worked as designed, officials say.

However, residents who were inconvenienced, businesses that suffered income losses and government authorities should be asking whether the system's design can be improved and operations altered to prevent widespread prolonged blackouts.

Though the quakes spared Oahu extensive damage, it is during an emergency that reliable electrical power is most crucial to public safety and while disasters strike indiscriminately, HECO has a duty to make sure it minimizes their effect.

Company officials say that had HECO not shut down its equipment, manually and automatically, and cut off power as demand exceeded supply, damage could have taken out generators that would take days, if not weeks, to fix.

"I know an eight-hour or 12-hour outage seems like a long time, but in comparison to a 12-day or 36-day outage in terms of cost, as well as anxiety, I think there is no comparison," said HECO's Tom Joaquin.

The public needs further explanation as to why those might be the only options HECO had and why a system can't be designed to keep at least some power flowing.

The company said the lengthy Oahu blackout was due to the system's large size and complexity. That's why its affiliate on Maui, which uses smaller generator units, was able to get back on line more quickly after an islandwide outage there. If smaller is quicker, HECO might consider reducing its system to more manageable and independent units.

Without expertise, it is difficult to assess HECO's performance. There might be valid reasons why the power grid needs to be interconnected, including cost, existing infrastructure and use of long-standing technology.

HECO is seeking approval of another generating plant and transmission line it says is needed to meet increased demand. Though the proposal is a separate issue, its cost -- estimated at $137 million -- must be weighed. The Public Utilities Commission and HECO's customers should be asking whether such a big investment in a plant is worthwhile if reliability is similar to existing ones.

In other words, can HECO do better?