💧 Water and Power · U.S. Virgin Islands
WAPA board approved fiscal 2026 budget, LPG contract and infrastructure actions
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority’s governing board approved the utility’s fiscal 2026 electric and water budgets and several fuel and infrastructure measures at its July 24, 2025 meeting, according to WAPA.
The board approved a contract with Empire Gas Company Inc. to supply HD-5 grade liquid propane gas to the Randolph Harley and Richmond power plants. WAPA said the contract included improved pricing and an option for the vendor to build and maintain a dedicated LPG fuel station at no capital cost to the authority.
The board also approved a no-cost time extension for Exsol Group to complete the final phase of LPG terminal infrastructure tied to the new Wartsila generators at the Randolph Harley Power Plant.
For the Advanced Metering Infrastructure project, the board approved additional work to allow installation of up to 150 composite poles and related electrical equipment across St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, Water Island and Hassel Island.
The board approved a cost increase and time extension for the Donald Francois Substation switchgear replacement project, which WAPA said is funded by FEMA and is intended to improve reliability at the St. Thomas substation damaged in the 2017 hurricanes.
WAPA said the fiscal 2026 budgets were approved unanimously. The utility said the budgets anticipated higher revenue from more accurate meter readings and improved system efficiency, and included funding for maintenance, vendor payments, tree-trimming crews and technical staff.
The board also welcomed Collin Brown as director of transmission and distribution. WAPA identified Brown as an electrical engineer with prior experience at the St. Kitts Electricity Co. Ltd.
During the meeting, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Karl Knight said WAPA still faced deferred maintenance and $7.4 million in outstanding payments to local vendors.