💧 Water and Power · St. Thomas, VI
WAPA board approved contract extensions, pole changes and 2020 health insurance renewal
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority board approved several electric-system and employee-benefit items at its regular monthly meeting on Nov. 21, 2019.
The board approved a no-cost extension of RG Engineering's contract for work on generating Unit 17 at the Estate Richmond Power Plant through February 2020. WAPA said the extension was needed because shipping logistics for repaired components delayed completion of the work.
The board also approved a no-cost time extension of an engineering services contract for fire protection system upgrades at the Randolph Harley Power Plant to facilitate a previously authorized payment to the vendor.
In addition, the board approved modifications to an existing composite pole contract to add installation of 60-foot and 65-foot poles. WAPA said the change was needed so federal funds could be used to pay for installation of those pole lengths.
The board approved a 2020 medical and dental insurance contract with Cigna at an annual cost of $5.9 million. It also approved an additional $111,000 so the authority could absorb increased family coverage costs without passing that increase to employees. The new contract was set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2020.
Executive Director Lawrence J. Kupfer told the board that electrical demand had increased in both districts in the preceding months but remained below pre-storm levels. He said LPG use for power generation was below target because of mechanical issues with two WAPA-owned generators.
Kupfer also said Unit 26 on St. Thomas had been linked to district-wide service interruptions earlier in November 2019 and said WAPA was trying to avoid dispatching the unit until APR Energy resolved the issues. He reported no unusual developments with the potable water systems.