💧 Water and Power · U.S. Virgin Islands
WAPA board approved mutual-aid agreements and other electric-system items at June 25 meeting
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority’s governing board on June 25, 2020, approved mutual-aid agreements with public power utilities in the mainland U.S. to provide assistance restoring the electric grid after a natural disaster.
WAPA said the agreements would allow outside utility personnel to be called in once the territory was under an emergency declaration and ahead of a windstorm event.
At the start of the meeting, the board removed from its agenda a comprehensive organizational study and proposed wage increases for management and confidential employees, then went into executive session. Afterward, board Secretary Juanita Young said the board authorized Executive Director Lawrence J. Kupfer to settle pending litigation, approved salary adjustments for the board secretary and the Internal Audit and Revenue Assurance division, approved parameters for wage negotiations with the Professional and Technical Union, and selected board counsel.
In other action, the board approved a no-cost extension of a contract with Fortress Electric to complete equipment installation at the Richmond Power Plant; a resolution allowing WAPA to operate at 2020 budget levels until a fiscal 2021 budget was adopted; social media, code of conduct, anti-discrimination and unlawful-harassment policies; and an extension of the maturity date of the 2018 Series B bond anticipation notes from July 1, 2020, to Aug. 31, 2020.
The board tabled a proposed ground lease and tank purchase agreement with Virgin Islands Oil and Transportation, LLLP, pending additional information. WAPA said the company proposed buying two unused oil storage tanks on St. Thomas and leasing two acres for 40 years, including use of the utility’s fuel dock at Krum Bay.
The board did not approve a $78,607.50 funding increase for lead-abatement work on a fuel line at the Harley Power Plant on St. Thomas. WAPA said the increase was tied to changes in the project scope and that additional solicitations would be sought.
In his report, Kupfer told board members that power demand was rising seasonally, though COVID-19 had reduced demand by 4% to 5% overall and hurt electricity sales. He said WAPA had returned Unit 15 to service, increasing propane use at the Harley plant and reducing reliance on No. 2 oil, and that Unit 27, a leased generating unit from GE, was being dispatched to improve reliability on St. Thomas. He also said water inventories on St. Croix were slightly below target but had not caused adverse effects.