{"id":55964,"date":"2017-08-24T23:39:41","date_gmt":"2017-08-24T23:39:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/viconsortium.com\/?p=55964"},"modified":"2017-08-24T23:41:37","modified_gmt":"2017-08-24T23:41:37","slug":"wapa-makes-preparations-for-hurricane-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wp.viconsortium.com\/?p=55964","title":{"rendered":"WAPA Board Extends Contract For Tree Trimming Services, Authorizes Negotiations With Local Contractors To Aid With Emergency Storm-Related Restoration"},"content":{"rendered":"

The governing board of the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority approved a four-month contract extension with Asplundh Tree Expert Company for tree trimming services, WAPA announced Thursday.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAdditional manpower and other resources are required to supplement the existing Line Department personnel with routine tree trimming services to protect the integrity and reliability of WAPA\u2019s transmission and distribution systems,\u201d WAPA Executive Director Julio A. Rhymer, Sr. explained.\u00a0The contract extension is needed while WAPA develops a joint tree trimming contract with Viya and the Asplundh company. The territory-wide cost of the contract extension is $935,874.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. Rhymer also received authorization to negotiate and enter into agreement with two local electrical contractors: Bryan\u2019s Electric and Bonneville Group. The companies would assist WAPA with restoration services in the aftermath of a hurricane or other wind storm.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the WAPA release, board approved two change orders in the Authority\u2019s contract with Wartsila North America. The first, for just under $370,000, is for an extension of a new operations control room at the Harley power plant on St. Thomas, which will facilitate the enlargement of an operations control room to accommodate both WAPA and Wartsila personnel and equipment. The second change order, in the amount of $1.6 million, facilitates the extension of the powerhouse and auxiliary areas to allow for the installation of a seventh Wartsila generating engine at the Harley power plant in the future. <\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. Rhymer told the board that accommodations are already made for three optional units in the future. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEnvironmental and physical constraints make adding another unit in the proposed Wartsila engine hall the best feasible generation option,” he said.\u00a0<\/span>The benefits of this latest modification would include increased plant reliability with dual fuel applications and overall improved efficiency through lower heat rates resulting in significant reduced fuel costs. <\/span><\/p>\n

Board members welcomed the projected cost savings analysis with the board chairwoman expressing confidence in the path WAPA is on with new generation. In addition, Rhymer said, the changes are in line with WAPA\u2019s Integrated Resource Plan, which recommends replacing the existing aging generators with new, more efficient, smaller units. The approved change orders bring the contract total with Wartsila North America to $37,037,913.<\/span><\/p>\n

In other action, the board ratified:<\/span><\/p>\n