{"id":62590,"date":"2018-04-20T10:19:51","date_gmt":"2018-04-20T10:19:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/viconsortium.com\/?p=62590"},"modified":"2018-04-20T10:19:51","modified_gmt":"2018-04-20T10:19:51","slug":"cost-to-harden-power-infrastructure-estimated-to-be-572-million-wapa-gets-overview-of-projects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wp.viconsortium.com\/?p=62590","title":{"rendered":"Cost To Harden Power Infrastructure Estimated To Be $572 Million; WAPA Gets Overview Of Projects"},"content":{"rendered":"

ST. THOMAS — Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority Executive Director Lawrence J. Kupfer on Thursday laid out a slate of projects that have been approved under FEMA\u2019s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, WAPA has announced.<\/span><\/p>\n

The hazard mitigation projects include the installation of more durable composite poles, a general hardening of the electric grid, the undergrounding of distribution feeders in critical locations territory-wide, and development of a micro-grid for St. John. Once all projects are completed, coupled with other mitigation projects completed in the aftermath of prior year storms, more than 50 percent of WAPA\u2019s customers will receive electrical service through underground facilities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. Kupfer spoke at the monthly meeting of WAPA\u2019s governing board on St. Croix explaining that the projects are designed to not only harden the electrical systems in the territory, but build more resiliency allowing the Authority to quickly recover after a natural disaster. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have experienced the devastating effects of hurricanes and windstorms, primarily on our transmission and distribution systems. Our goal is to capitalize on the federal funding available to build a stronger system and implement measures to reduce both our response and recovery,\u201d he said. The total cost of all hazard mitigation projects is estimated at $572 million.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOn each island, a number of composite poles will be installed along the path of critical transmission cables; large banks of pole-mounted transformers will be replaced with ground-level pad mount transformers; and portions of critical feeder areas will be undergrounded.\u00a0 These projects build on previous mitigation work done in the aftermath of Hurricanes Hugo and Marilyn,\u201d Mr. Kupfer added.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. Kupfer also updated board members on WAPA\u2019s efforts to prepare for the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which opens in six weeks. \u201cWe are working with the project team of Witt O\u2019Brien\u2019s to take lessons learned and plan accordingly as we approach the start of the season,” he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, Mr. Kupfer addressed the ongoing issue of extended billing periods facing the utility\u2019s customers. \u201cWe have added resources including temporary staff to manually read all meters. Due to the vast damage by the hurricanes, to the automated metering systems, all meters are being read manually. WAPA technical staff is deploying a temporary solution to facilitate the resumption of automated meter readings,” he said. “<\/span>We are now reading about 56% of all meters electronically. That number is growing as more and more of the system is rebuilt. A fair estimate is that by the end of May, we will resume a normal 30-day billing period.”<\/span><\/p>\n

By way of an update on streetlights, Mr. Kupfer said by the end of June all areas that were illuminated by streetlights prior to the hurricanes will be restored, and by year\u2019s end all street light fixtures will have been replaced. \u201c<\/span><\/p>\n

The contractor will be installing all new lights at locations across the territory. When we get to the end of this year, all older-styled lights and all of the LED\u2019s that were installed before the hurricanes will have been replaced,” he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the meeting, the governing board approved several hurricane restoration-related items:<\/span><\/p>\n