A power line in the Waikapu area along Honoapiilani Highway broke Tuesday around noon and caused 4,000 customers in Waikapu, Wailuku, Spreckelsville and Kuau to lose power for about an hour, Maui Electric Co. said.

The power line repair also will mean that about 500 customers in parts of Waikapu and Wailuku will be without electricity from 10 p.m. to midnight today, MECO said.

MECO said the interruption of power was needed to allow crews to safely make “urgent repairs” to the power line.

The affected customers were being directly contacted and include those along Honoapiilani Highway, between Mile Marker 1.5 to 3; parts of East and West Waiko Road; Honua Place; Huihui Place; Keilio Place; Kemoa Place; Kilohi Street; Leihuapueo Place; Nukuna Place; Nuna Place; Oia Way; Olo Place; Pilikana Street; Wilikona Place; Old Waikapu Road; Waikea Road; Waiolani and Waiolani Elua subdivisions, including Ilikupono Street, Kawika Place, Kawika Street, Hoolako Place, Kama Street, East Keapua, East Kanawai, Hookahewai Drive, Pilihana Place, Moohele Street and Pilikana Street; and Waiolani Mauka subdivision, including Moolu Street, Koani Loop, Moolu Circle and Papaiaulu Place.

The company recommends affected customers charge any necessary electronics and turn off sensitive electronic equipment before the scheduled outage.

Drivers are asked to proceed with caution in these affected areas during this time period because traffic signals also may be impacted, MECO said Tuesday evening.

Crews will be repairing a power line that broke around 11:55 a.m. Tuesday and caused the outage. All customers were restored service by 12:55 p.m. Tuesday.

The cause of the broken line is being assessed, MECO said.

The outage caused traffic signals to go out in Waikapu and parts of Wailuku early Tuesday afternoon, Maui police said in advisories. Police asked motorists to drive with care while approaching Honoapiilani Highway intersections with East Waiko Road, Kuikahi Drive and Kuihelani Highway. Police also were directing traffic at Kuikahi and Waiale drives.

Motorists were advised to treat intersections with inoperative traffic signals as four-way stops, police said in a Facebook post.

* Lee Imada can be reached at leeimada@mauinews.com.