WAPA Currently Focused On Reconstructing ‘Backbone’ Of Territory’s Electrical System, New Updates Announced

Here’s WAPA’s latest power and potable water restoration update.

ELECTRIC SYSTEM

• Restoration and reconstruction work continued in both districts on Monday. The focus remains on reconstructing the backbone of the electrical system. The primary electrical circuits that are not currently energized must be reconstructed prior to service restoration to commercial or residential customers.
• On St. Croix, following last week’s installation of new utility poles from the Richmond power plant to Five Corners, crews continued stringing new primary lines along the path of Feeder 6A. On Monday, two additional buildings at the JFK housing community were energized and almost a dozen street lights were energized from the power plant to the LBJ housing community. 
• On St. John, crews continued to rebuild various electrical circuits in Cruz Bay as well as in the Gallows Point and Grande Bay areas.
• On St. Thomas, crews worked on Feeder 8A developing primary circuits from Banco Popular west to Bellows International while energizing some customers along Harwood Highway. Crews also planted poles along the path of Feeder 7A. A portion of Feeder 7B, in the Sugar Estate area, was energized as well as WAPA’s Tutu electrical substation. Crews continued to reconstruct a transmission circuit to interconnect the Tutu and East End substations. Approximately 25% of this work is completed.
• WAPA personnel has removed electrical meters at locations where damage was apparent to either an electrical meter base and/or weather head. In these instances, the customer is responsible for all repairs. WAPA will not reinstall meters until repairs are made by a licensed electrician. Home and business owners are advised to make repairs to their damaged weather heads and or meter bases as soon as possible. Once crews have reached your neighborhood, customers who have not had their weather head or meter base repaired, will not have service immediately restored.

POTABLE WATER SYSTEM

• While water service remains available throughout Cruz Bay, St. John, there are two days of emergency water storage on the island.
• There are six days of emergency water storage on St. Thomas.  The Water Division continues to work with electrical crews to re-energize additional pump stations. The restoration of the pump stations will facilitate the resumption of water service to areas including Contant Knolls and Savan. The Lindbergh Bay pump station was returned to service over the last few days.
• On St. Croix, there are four days of emergency water storage. WAPA is pumping at full capacity at Contentment, Mount Welcome and Concordia pump stations. This has facilitated water service to mid-island and Frederiksted town.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• All electrical problems must be reported to the WAPA Emergency Call Centers to be properly documented and tracked. These problems include, but are not limited to, electrical service interruptions as well as damaged and downed facilities such as poles, transformers, and power lines. The WAPA Call Centers are now operating 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., seven days per week. St. Thomas – St. John: 340-774-1424 and St. Croix: 340-773-0150.
• Customer service offices in both districts are functional. On St. Croix, customers can conduct business at the Authority’s offices in Sunny Isle. In the St. Thomas-St. John district, a temporary customer service location has been established at WAPA’s offices in Port of Sale Mall. In both districts, customer service representatives are available from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday-Friday.  Self-service payment kiosks are also available at both locations during these hours.
•  WAPA’s office telephones are operational in both districts. St. Croix: 340-773-2250 and St. Thomas – St. John: 340-774-3552.