27,000 Customers Now Restored As WAPA Races To 90 Percent Restoration Before Christmas

The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority said in its latest restoration update that as of Sunday, some 27,000 power customers were reenergized, as WAPA races to complete 90 percent restoration before Christmas.

Below, the latest update.

HURRICANE RESTORATION UPDATE

• On Sunday, crews restored customers in the following areas:
  • On St. Croix, 262 customers were restored in: Cotton Valley, Grapetree Bay, Smithfield, Whim, White Lady and Williams Delight.

• • On St. Thomas, 260 customers were restored in: Bolongo Bay, Frenchman Bay, Mandahl, Peterborg, Scott Free, Lindbergh Bay, Contant, Lillendahl and Marienhoj, as well as Commandant Gade. 

• • On St. John, 59 customers were restored in: Carolina, Chocolate Hole, John’s Folly, Pastory and Saunders Gut.

• On Saturday, more than 900 customers were restored territory-wide. Additional customers were restored in the following areas:
  • On St. Croix: Catherine’s Rest, Clifton Hill, Prospect, Sight, Smithfield / Two Brothers, Southgate Villas, Union & Mount Washington, White Bay, William’s Delight, and Work & Rest.

• • On St. Thomas: Annas Retreat, Bovoni, Caret Bay, Contant, Frydendahl, Frydenhoj, Savan, Scott Free, Solberg and Tutu.

• • On St. John: Adrian, Glucksberg, Quaco & Zimmerman as well as Saunders Gut.

Customers are advised that WAPA continues to receive regular shipments of materials and supplies in both districts to complete the power restoration. Crews are awaiting shipments of transformers in both districts, which are vital to the continued restoration of service. The transformers are expected on island this week and will be dispatched for continued restoration.

• On Monday, the Valdemar Hill Sr. Drive, “Skyline Drive” on St. Thomas, will be closed to vehicular traffic from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and again from 1–4 p.m., as crews continue reconstruction and restoration work. The road closure will be in effect from the intersection of Louisenhoj Castle to the Donoe Bypass. Area residents will be allowed to access their homes during the road closure. Alternate routes are available for motorists who must traverse the area.
• The WAPA Customer Service office on St. John will operate on an abbreviated schedule until further notice. The office will open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Due to Internet connectivity challenges, only checks, certified checks and money orders will be accepted as forms of payment. Customers must provide account numbers in order to process all transactions.

Residents are reminded of the need 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.

OTHER INFORMATION

• WAPA telephone contact: St. Thomas – St. John district, 340-774-3552; St. Croix district, 340-773-2250.
• Customer Service Offices operate Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Sunny Isle on St. Croix and at Port of Sale Mall on St. Thomas. On St. John, the Customer Service Office at The Marketplace operates Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Emergency Call Centers operate seven days a week from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. To contact the call center, call 340-774-1424 on St. Thomas – St. John, and 340-773-0150 on St. Croix.
• The latest information on the restoration effort is available on the WAPA website,www.viwapa.vi and on Facebook: Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority.