Multiple Power Outages Poses Risk of Damage to Business and Household Appliances

November 24, 2025

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24 November 2025 Apia Samoa. Residents in the Siusega-Ululoloa area are concerned for their business and household appliances after multiple power outages were experienced all throughout today, with disruptions to power supply starting early this morning and continuing to when this story went to press at 5pm.

One business owner said power had been going off and on all day since early this morning, but what concerns them the most is the fluctuation of power surge when the power goes off without warning, and then back on again.

“Between 3:30pm and 4:00pm, the power went off and on three times within that half hour period.”

One resident said their power went off, and then 10 minutes later it came on, and then five minutes later it went off again!”

“That fluctuating power supply can damage our household appliances! Even if the harm is not immediate, there is definitely long term effects to our appliances wear and tear.”

A business owner in the Vaitele Industrial zone said fluctuations can cause damage to sensitive electronics in devices like computers, printers and TVs, and sudden power restoration can strain motors in expensive appliances like refrigerators, air conditioning units and washing machines, leading to overheating, reduced lifespan, and potential breakdown.

The impacts and cost implications for families was very real during the power crisis earlier this year. Families reported damage to TVs, air con units, refrigerators and ovens.

“This is very concerning.. there will be damaged appliances, and most families and businesses have not been compensated for damage caused to appliances from the last time.”

EPC Posts on Social Media

A post on the EPC social media page before 6am announced that “electricity supply was currently out for villages along our East Coast distribution line, as well as the Palisi line.

“Our teams at Fiaga and Fuluasou are working this morning to rebalance and readjust the available generation capacity so that power can be safely restored.”

Samoa’s leading provider of ICT Solutions.

Four hours later at around 10am another advice informed the public that there was an unexpected power outage affecting the South Coast and Palisi Feeder.

At midday, it was announced that the South Coast Feeder was “fully restored for the whole of the South Coast.” An hour later it was announced that the Palisi Feeder had been reinstated.

At 4:20pm an UNEXPECTED OUTAGE announcement was posted!

“Please be informed that there is an unexpected power outage affecting the South Coast Feeder, Palisi Feeder, and the Industrial Feeder at this time.”

“We apologise to our customers for this unexpected situation. Our teams are working as best they can to manage supply, due to issues with some of our generators at the Fuluasou Power Station.”

Attempts to call the EPC landlines were unsuccessful.

Types of voltage fluctuations and their effects

Power surges (high voltage): A sharp spike in voltage can overload and burn out components, potentially leading to short circuits or fires.

Brownouts (low voltage): When voltage drops, appliances may try to compensate by drawing more current, leading to overheating and straining components like motors and compressors.

Interrupted cycles: Power outages can corrupt internal programming in appliances like washing machines or ovens.

How to protect your appliances

Use surge protectors: Plug sensitive electronics into surge protectors to safeguard them from sudden spikes in voltage.

Install an automatic voltage stabilizer: A voltage stabilizer can protect your entire home from both high and low voltage fluctuations by maintaining a consistent output.