💧 Water and Power · U.S. Virgin Islands
WAPA outlined 2022 projects, staffing changes and cost-saving measures in year-end editorial
Official document: https://www.viwapa.vi/docs/default-source/news-(docs)/ceo-editorial---2022-year-in-review-(final).pdf?sfvrsn=68bc6093_2
Archive page: https://www.viwapa.vi/news-information/press-releases/press-release-details/2023/02/07/ceo-editorial-2022-year-in-review
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority on February 7, 2023 published a year-in-review editorial summarizing management changes, infrastructure work, grant-funded purchases and employee training completed or underway during 2022.
WAPA said 2022 included the arrival of new leadership, including Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Andrew Smith, and the development of a strategic plan for the utility.
Among the items cited were maintaining the Levelized Energy Adjustment Clause rate with support from the Virgin Islands government and the Public Services Commission, terminating a lease with General Electric to obtain ownership of Unit 17, securing about a 5% reduction in liability property insurance rates, and moving the Transmission and Distribution Line Department to Market Square East, which WAPA said saved about $22,000 a month.
The authority also said the Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded about $1 billion for replacement of St. Croix water infrastructure. WAPA said it also secured an Interior Department grant of nearly $2 million, through the Virgin Islands Energy Office, to acquire eight Tesla electric vehicles and a hybrid Versalift bucket truck.
In workforce development, WAPA said 30 employees graduated in 2022 from its PowerLine Workers Apprenticeship Program, 184 employees on St. Thomas and St. Croix completed fall-protection training, and 33 internal promotions were made during the year.
The utility also listed project updates by island. On St. Thomas, WAPA said 1,853 composite poles had been installed, or 79% of the total, the Bovoni Waterline Expansion Project had been completed, and the Wartsila project was near completion with battery installation remaining. On St. John, WAPA said Phase One of the Feeder 7E Cruz Bay Underground Project had been completed and 1,550 composite poles had been installed, also 79% complete. On St. Croix, WAPA said the Golden Grove, Midland and Container Port underground projects were each 95% complete, the Clifton Hill Water Project was 87% complete, and 2,967 composite poles had been installed, or 73% complete.