Upolu, Samoa suffers ongoing power outages and frustrations

Residents of Upolu, Samoa's largest island and home to the capital, Apia, are facing ongoing power outages. These disruptions have lasted for two weeks and may continue for several more weeks. The outages are due to maintenance work by the Electrical Power Corporation (EPC). The EPC announced that power will be rationed in various areas of Upolu. This decision has caused frustration among residents and significant challenges for local businesses. A local correspondent, Tipi Autagavaia, reported that people are concerned. They hope that two new generators will arrive soon to help resolve the limited power supply. The EPC is currently working on repairing high-voltage underground cables damaged by water. While the EPC has been providing updates, it has not alleviated public frustration. Autagavaia noted that there were instances when power was shut off suddenly, leaving people in the dark for hours. Now, the EPC is sharing schedules for power outages, which is a small improvement. However, many families have suffered damages to their electrical appliances due to these cuts. Some hotels, restaurants, and shops are now using generators to keep their services running. Long power outages of four to five hours or more are proving very inconvenient for the community.