Here’s WAPA’s Latest Restoration Update

Progress continues territory-wide with power restoration as the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, which is expecting another 200 linemen by the end of this week, brings its off-island workforce to 765. Below, WAPA’s latest restoration update.

ELECTRIC SYSTEM

• WAPA crews continued reconstruction and restoration work across the territory toward the goal of 90% restoration by the end of December.
• On St. Thomas, crews energized the V.I. Waste Management Authority’s processing center in Estate Mandahl as well as the Mahogany Run golf course. The nearby condominiums will be energized on Thursday. Work continued Wednesday to restore service to customers in Anna’s Retreat, with a completion target date for that community of mid-November. Poles were installed on portions of Feeder 5A on St. Thomas. On Feeder 6A, some customers in Botany Bay, Bordeaux, Crown Mountain and Crown & Hawk were restored, while crews worked to set poles in Frenchman’s Bay on Feeder 10B. Work also continued on Feeders 7A and 8A and included the restoration of service to the Berry Fire Station in Estate Dorothea.
• On St. Croix, work continued on circuits along Centerline Road from the courthouse to the Education Complex. Poles were planted near The Home Depot. Additional customers on Strand, Hill and Prince Streets, along Pine Tree Road in Estate Whim were energized. Reconstruction work was completed on Feeders 4A and 5A. Approximately 98% of Gallows Bay has been energized on Feeder 2A, and by Friday, a portion of Feeder 3A, up to Beeston Hill, will be restored. Work on Feeder 1A has been completed.
• On St. John, crews dressed composite poles that will be planted in Coral Bay. Other crews continue to reconstruct circuits in Cinnamon Bay, Trunk Bay, near Sirenusa, at the entrance to Fish Bay, and near the George Simmonds Terrace.
• The public is reminded that through an agreement reached between WAPA and the Department of Planning & Natural Resources, WAPA will energize homes with temporary roofs once a licensed electrician inspects and certifies that the structure is safe to energize.
• WAPA reminds the public that several hurricane removal debris crews are deployed throughout the territory. Motorists are asked to exercise caution when traversing around the heavy equipment being used to pick up downed poles, transformers, wire and other equipment. Additionally, residents who have poles, transformers and other equipment on their premises, as a result of the hurricanes, should contact the Emergency Call Centers so arrangements can be made to pick up the damaged equipment.
• WAPA advises residents that it is necessary to shut off standby generators when line crews are in your neighborhood restoring electrical service. A standby generator has the potential to back feed electricity to the grid which poses a severe safety risk to restoration crews.
• All electrical problems must be reported to the WAPA Emergency Call Centers to be properly documented and tracked. The Emergency Call Centers operate 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., seven days per week. St. Thomas – St. John: 340-774-1424 and St. Croix: 340-773-0150.
• WAPA personnel has removed electrical meters at locations where damage was apparent to either an electrical meter base and/or weather head. 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, those customers who have not had their weather head or meter base repaired, will not have service immediately restored. Additionally, customers and electricians are reminded that it is against the law to remove or otherwise destroy meter seals. If work needs to be done to repair a damaged meter base and or weather head, contact WAPA’s Emergency Call Centers which operate seven days a week, 9 am – 5 pm.

POTABLE WATER SYSTEM

• There are six days of emergency water storage on St. John, ten days on St. Thomas and seven days on St. Croix.
• WAPA urges clean-up contractors and homeowners in both districts to exercise caution when piling debris on and around potable water meters. There are a growing number of instances where water meters are being damaged by clean-up equipment grading debris and causing damage to the roadside water meters. The continued damage by heavy equipment poses difficulty in maintaining or restoring potable water service to customers.

OTHER INFORMATION

• Emergency Call Centers operate 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., seven days a week.
• St. Thomas – St. John district, 340-774-1424; St. Croix district, 340-773-0150
• WAPA telephone contact: St. Thomas – St. John district, 340-774-3552; St. Croix district, 340-773-2250
• Customer Service Offices are operating Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Sunny Isle on St. Croix and at Port of Sale Mall on St. Thomas
• WAPA website: www.viwapa.vi