PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. -- Anderson Island is back on line...sort of.

The island off of Steilacoom was plunged into darkness early Saturday morning when the underwater electric cable connected to the mainland malfunctioned.

Tanner Electric Co-operative, the island's power company, brought in over-sized generators with enough power to light up the whole island for its 1,100 residents.

The generators get the job done, but they're costly. They burn about 250 gallons of diesel every hour at a cost of about $400,000 every month.

Some residents could see their utilities double. And if the island's 35-year-old cable to the mainland needs replacing, it could cost up to $4 million.

"I could say I'm just mad as hell, but that's probably an overreaction," said resident Sarah Garmire.

Some say Tanner should have replaced the cable before now. Others disagree.

"The cable should have lasted longer than it did," said resident Nancy Robinson.

"It would be nice if it was a little cheaper. But that would be fantasy world so we'll just take what comes and be happy that we have electricity," said resident Jacob Kobernik.

Many of the residents say they chose the island life for both the joys and the challenges that go with it.

Tanner says repairs to the power cable could take a month or longer.