💧 Water and Power · U.S. Virgin Islands
WAPA board approved contract changes for mitigation projects and St. Croix waterline work
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority board on May 28, 2020 approved several contract actions tied to electric and water system projects, including a $5.9 million project management contract for underground utility work in both districts.
WAPA said the contract was awarded to FX Bonnes for construction management services on projects to place aerial transmission and distribution lines underground.
The board also approved a 30-day extension and a cost increase to an existing contract for reconstruction of the East End Electrical Substation on St. Thomas, which was damaged in the 2017 hurricanes. WAPA said design changes were made to accommodate different equipment and to add 15kV switchgear in the same building, avoiding about $800,000 in costs that would have been associated with constructing a second building.
For St. Croix, the board approved a 210-day extension for phase two of the Frederiksted Waterline Rehabilitation Project, extending the contract to January 2021. WAPA said delayed payment of mobilization fees and shipping delays tied to the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the project.
The board also rescinded a contract award for the container port underground construction project on St. Croix so additional details could be provided to bidders and amended proposals submitted for later review.
In other action, the board approved a one-year, $240,000 contract with Sustainable Capital Advisors LLC for municipal advisory services related to capital planning, budgeting and financing alternatives, and approved cost increases in existing security contracts for temperature screening at WAPA facilities.
In a monthly report to the board, Executive Director Lawrence J. Kupfer said territorial power generation in April 2020 was about 68 megawatts, roughly the same as in March. He said demand had begun to return toward pre-pandemic levels and that liquefied petroleum gas prices had risen somewhat but remained about 15% below oil prices.
Kupfer also reported that St. Thomas generating Unit 15 had returned to service on propane and that Unit 23 was being dispatched regularly after fuel issues were resolved. He said water inventories were good and distribution systems were operating normally.