💧 Water and Power · U.S. Virgin Islands
WAPA said Feeder 13 was repaired as Unit 23 remained offline at Randolph Harley plant
Official document: https://www.viwapa.vi/docs/default-source/2023-pr/press-release-(6.10.24)-feeder-13-repaired-unit-23-undergoing-repairs-at-rhpp.pdf?sfvrsn=c9d4815e_3
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority said on June 10, 2024, that Feeder 13 had been repaired on June 7 after crews and contractors inspected and tested the line to locate and fix a damaged underground cable.
WAPA said the transmission line stretched about five miles, including a two-mile underground section with 29 manholes. The authority said heavy rain had slowed the work because water had to be pumped from manholes before inspection and testing could proceed.
The authority said reports from its fault indicator system helped narrow the search for the fault and reduce the number of manholes that required investigation.
WAPA also said Unit 23 at the Randolph Harley Power Plant went offline during the previous week and required testing. The authority said some customers on Feeders 6A and 7A experienced two-hour rotational electrical service interruptions because of reduced generation capacity, even though they were not part of the rotation schedule.
As of June 10, 2024, WAPA said Wartsila Phase 1 Unit 3 had completed regular maintenance, increasing generation capacity at the plant. The authority said an updated rotational outage schedule remained in effect in the St. Thomas-St. John district until Unit 23 returned to service.
WAPA said plant personnel were pursuing two options to restore Unit 23, including buying a new megawatt transducer and configuring a replacement transducer.