Bryan and Legislature identified $6 million plan to resume propane supply to WAPA

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach and all 15 senators of the 33rd Legislature said on Dec. 23, 2019, that they had identified funding to help the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority pay its outstanding obligation to propane supplier Vitol.

The Legislature scheduled an emergency session for Dec. 27, 2019, at 10 a.m. to vote on a measure reappropriating $6 million from the miscellaneous section of the fiscal year 2020 budget.

According to Government House, the appropriation was intended to help WAPA meet its financial obligation to Vitol for December 2019 and January 2020 and allow the utility to resume using propane instead of diesel fuel.

The administration and senators also said they would work on a longer-term response to WAPA's debt to Vitol, including support for a possible adjustment to the utility's base rate and legislation to direct any resulting funds to their intended purpose.

Government House said the discussions also included WAPA's management structure and billing discrepancies.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-33rd-legislature-identify-funding-to-resume-supply-of-propane-gas-to-wapa/