Three blackouts in three weeks say a lot about the nation's infrastructure. There is no way it was designed to cater for future demand and that is what we are experiencing now.

The power cuts were followed by water cuts and this showed how the infrastructure of the nation was not designed to be resilient and not to cater for the growing demands. What has gone wrong? For the people, it shows that investment to maintain the infrastructure has not been there. Water and power are the basics.

What happens when the nation cannot provide this to its people? It is clear that the nation’s utility companies had not planned properly for the future and if they had, this is evident of the lack of infrastructure support from the government.

The power problem faced by the nation is evident in the lack of investment in upgrading the current system. The utility company would have known through an estimate that the power demand was going to increase. Why has there been no real investment to ensure that the supply will keep up with the demand?

If anything a drive on Wednesday night would have confirmed how many places were without power. Once again most places from Vaitele up to Malifa were in the dark. EPC said they apologised to their valued customers on the West Coast Feeder, as there may be power outages due to the increased demand observed during this time.

In the last few years, the revenue of the power company has been impacted by the promised discount that continued after the pandemic. The company made losses and there was a failure to invest. The results we can see now despite the many denials by the ministers and the company.

It also points to an ageing infrastructure that needs an overhaul. Three weeks ago overworked generators at the Fiaga Station gave up leading to power rationing. Similarly, a new generator in Savaii broke down because of the workload it was under. Investment in the current power grid and infrastructure is needed but the question is, does the EPC have the money to do so?

EPC is on record stating that they are changing transformers in the power grid as some have aged and causing faults. The minister responsible for EPC Olo Fiti Vaai has said the EPC has a lot of money. These are just statements and no annual reports or figures have been shown to back these claims.

The former board of the EPC stated that the power provider was making losses of approximately $5 million a month and this was due to the 20 per cent discount that was given during COVID and then became an election promise. It was stated that EPC was just breaking even with a total loss for the year estimated to be $60 million.

The discount was removed for government offices in July 2023 and for all commercial entities in November 2023. This came with new rates per unit which meant the electricity cost doubled. The discount for residential customers remains. This reversal in 2023 would help to lessen the loss per month but it does not translate into profit. If there is profit then show the annual reports. EPC’s annual reports and financials should also be made public as it is a state-owned enterprise.

Another important point to note is that it is often stated at renewable energy meetings by top officials that the nation relies on 35 per cent of renewable energy. If this were true, fuel costs would be down but that is not the case. After the Faiga Station generation faults were fixed, EPC boss Faumui Tauiliili Toimoana stated that renewable energy sources were unreliable and depended on the weather. This means we are still burning more diesel than we are claiming to be to generate electricity.

The government has boldly said that by 2031, 70 per cent of the nation’s electricity will be from renewable sources. This will be another pipe dream if more investment is not poured to improve this vital infrastructure.

The current total electricity output is 32 megawatts and the demand is 30MW. The population is increasing and as more people build homes and businesses invest, this demand increases. Soon the demand will outgrow the supply.

Electricity is a cornerstone of modern society. It powers nearly every aspect of our lives, from households and businesses to industries and government services. Therefore, a robust and reliable electricity supply is critical for development and prosperity.

A reliable electricity supply is a critical driver of economic growth and development. It powers industries and businesses, enabling them to manufacture goods, provide services, and carry out transactions.

Proper planning and timely investment are the only solutions to the nation’s electricity woes, not power rationing.