Nukuʻalofa — Public frustration has flared again as ongoing power outages continue to darken homes and interrupt electricity to village water sources, intensifying calls for action.
Residents across affected areas flooded social media with anger and exhaustion, with many now tagging the Prime Minister and senior Cabinet ministers in appeals for compassion and urgent relief.
The reaction reflects years of simmering frustration, as power outages over the past decade have become routine and public complaints are widely seen as falling on deaf ears.
Complaints ranged from the loss of running water and inability to flush toilets to serious concerns for the elderly, young children, and people dependent on electricity-powered medical equipment.
Outages Hit Without Warning
Several complainants also alleged inconsistencies in planned outage notifications, saying announcements were sometimes issued after power had already been cut in affected areas, resulting in substantial damage to electrical equipment.
Tonga Power could not be reached for comment.
Matangiake resident ʻIsileli Fatani directly appealed to Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua on Facebook, describing severe hardship caused by two consecutive nights without power in the last 72 hours.
“I earnestly appeal to the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers Hon. Fane Fotu Fituʻafe, Hon. ʻAisake Eke, and Hon. Sevenitini Toumoʻua — for the past two nights we have been suffering a power outage from 8:30pm through to daylight. Please look into our situation,” Fatani wrote, tagging Fituafe, Toumo’ua, Sika and others in his Facebook post.
He said the power cuts had knocked out the village’s main water pump, leaving families without water for basic sanitation.
“Our water pumps have stopped working, leaving us without water in our bathrooms. The darkness has also led to an increase in theft. What is happening?” he asked.
“People who work night shifts and early mornings are suffering, with no water available. We plead with the government to show compassion for our struggles.”
Comments on Fatani’s post reflected similar frustration, with many criticising what they described as a lack of action by authorities.
Other posts about the ongoing outage saga seen by Kaniva News showed some commenters resorting to abusive language directed at Tonga Power.
Faults Force Load‑Shedding
The public frustration intensified yesterday after Tonga Power Limited issued another load‑shedding advisory, confirming that faults in several generators had reduced capacity and made power cuts unavoidable in parts of Tongatapu.
The notice was one of several issued this month alone, with Tonga Power saying load shedding is currently affecting communities in Hahake, including Pea, Haʻateiho, Veitongo, Lapaha, Kolonga, Niutoua, Fuaʻamotu, Nakolo, and surrounding villages. The utility warned that additional areas could also be included if required.
“Load shedding is a necessary last‑resort measure used to reduce pressure on the power system and prevent a total blackout across Tongatapu,” the company said, adding that electricity would be temporarily turned off in some areas to maintain supply to the wider network.
Tonga Power apologised for the disruption and said it would provide further updates as information becomes available, urging consumers to contact 944 or 0800 123 for inquiries.
Despite the explanation, many residents say the repeated outages highlight deeper concerns about the resilience of the country’s power infrastructure, particularly as households and businesses continue to struggle with prolonged disruptions.
