A Quick Guide to Electricity in Tonga

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What is the Voltage and Frequency in Tonga?

The electrical current in Tonga is 240 volts with 50 cycles per second. So the main information you will need to know for using your own appliances in Tonga is that the electricity in Tonga runs on 240 volts 50Hz.

You will be able to use your electrical appliances in Tonga if the voltage where your electrical items were manufactured is a country using 220-240 volts. These countries include the UK, Europe, Australia and most of Asia and Africa.

If you are from a country that has a different electrical range, such as 100-127 volts, and therefore your electrical items are manufactured to run on that system, you will need to get a converter or a transformer for using your appliances in Tonga. A voltage converter is a feature of many travel adapters, so be sure to look out for this specification if you need it. Countries in this category include most countries in North and South America.

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What Power Plug Adapter Do You Need for Tonga?

The power plugs and sockets in Tonga are of type 1. This is a three-pronged plug with one vertical prong and two slanting prongs. Some electrical appliances plugging into a type 1 sock only have two slanting prongs.

The type 1 power plug/socket is the type of power plus found in the following locations:

• American Samoa
• Argentina
• Australia
• China
• Cook Islands
• Fiji
• Kiribati
• Nauru
• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands
• Tajikistan
• Timor-Leste
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Uruguay
• Uzbekistan
• Vanuatu

If you have been to any of the above countries before, chances are that you still have the travel adapter that will work in Tonga! Be sure to check your “spare things” drawer!

Note that USB plug sockets are rarely found in Tonga, so it’s best to rely on the type 1 plug socket for connecting your electrical devices to the mains power.

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Does Tonga Experience Power Cuts?

Tonga experiences planned and unplanned power cuts. Power cuts on Tongatapu are rarer than on some other islands like Vava’u, Ha’apai and ‘Eua. Planned power cuts by Tonga’s sole public power administrator, Tonga Power, usually last around seven hours throughout the day, while unplanned power cuts are often resolved quickly.

Some more remote accommodations in Tonga use their own power generators, which may cut out more frequently than what’s connected to the national grid.

The most common time for power cuts to occur is during the wet season where tropical storms are more frequent and can cause damage to power lines, power stations, etc. The wet season in Tonga runs from December to April. Check out What is the Weather Like in Tonga? for more information on Tonga’s climate.

For more advice on essentials to pack, see the 10 Essentials to Pack for Tonga.