💧 Water and Power · St. Thomas, VI
WAPA said underground cable faults delayed Feeder 13 restoration on St. Thomas
Official document: https://www.viwapa.vi/docs/default-source/2023-pr/press-release-(9.22.23)-authority-updates-community-on-feeder-13-power-restoration-challenges.pdf?sfvrsn=8649aaac_3
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority said on September 22, 2023, that it was continuing to face difficulties restoring service on Feeder 13 on St. Thomas after damage to the feeder's primary underground cable.
WAPA said crews had been entering manholes along the affected route from the Charlotte Amalie waterfront to Subbase since September 16, 2023, to locate and repair the damage. The authority said the work was hazardous and complicated by the cable's age and brittleness.
According to the utility, each restoration attempt was followed by another fault on the cable, causing Feeder 13 to trip again.
WAPA said it could not provide an estimated restoration time as of September 22, 2023. With Feeder 13 out of service, the authority said it was relying on Feeder 12 to carry most of the district's electrical load, except for distribution feeders originating at the Randolph Harley Power Plant, including Feeder 7A.
The utility said it was managing demand with rotational outages while repairs continued.