Crooks at WAPA

I don't think they read the meters every month, do they? I think it is something like 4X per year....anyone have better info?

I think we all need to start reading our own meters every month. In fact, taking a time stamped photo with the recorded meter reading. Then we can compare our numbers with WAPA. If enough of us do this and hold them accountable, they will have to start actually reading the meters monthly. I understand they are working on a system that will allow them to read the meters from the main office. We could alternatively play along with them and pay outrageous guess work bills until they set that up. If we are going to pay the highest utility rates in the world, we really ought to get top notch service don't you think?

Something crazy is going on with WAPA. My July bill for a studio apartment was $1,182.26. Did I mention-----STUDIO! The only thing that I can figure is that the previous month we were renovating our other units and they underbilled me for the June bill and are slamming me now in July.

I'm doing the little things to cut costs e.g. cutting off the porch light before we go to bed, shutting off the computer when not in use, and so forth . But I disagree with my wife on one subject. She likes to have three ceiling fans going even when we are not in the room or gone. She says it improves the circulation in our house and keeps it cooler. I don't think it does much unless the air actually blows on you. Anyone have an opinion?

We leave ceiling fans on low when we go off island because we close most doors and windows and want to keep air circulating through the house via the few windows we leave open. When we're on island we leave the doors and windows open 24/7 and only run the fans when we're in a room.

WAPA reads our meter monthly. I am certain of this because the meter is right outside my bedroom window and they always wake me on the day my bill says they will read the meter. WAPA meter reading is perhaps the most consistently punctual "service" I've experienced on island! 😀

Well my bill came out this month to $ 720.00 dollars if you want to we could trade????

WAPA does guesstimates all the time.

I'm on STX and they read in my neighborhood monthly, same day. I see them come and go.

As far as fans are concerned, we run our three fans 24/7 on low. My main concern is mold and mildew. My WAPA bill last month was #135.33.

We see our meter reader every month and this month's increase was $30 higher than previous. Didn't I see the PSC approved yet another rate increase??????? Public assistance & housing is looking better mon!!! Sheeh they have some really prime water front real estate........can I claim my dog as a dependant (she's not pit nor crucian).............I just need to trade in my island car for some big flashy machine, low profile tires & tricked out rims.................a few chickens in a couple cages & oh yes a bony pony tied to a tree & I'm soooo there!

Last I checked, public housing residents have to pay WAPA too. A bit of stereotyping there, eh?

Yes they do have to pay WAPA bill, alot of which is monies provided by a Government Assistance check, that I as a tax payer paid for! So not only do I pay my WAPA bill, but theirs as well. Stereo typing, have you cruised the low income props? Have you seen the ponies tied to trees, cages of pitbulls & chickens??? No to mention the wonderful water view????
Don't get me wrong, alot of good people live there & try really hard to make a better life for themselves & a good paying job isn't all that easy to come by............I was having a lil fun & sorry if it was a bit too true!

A LOT more people than one can realize are only one paycheck away from being homeless today! Not only in the islands but the mainland (USA) as well.

best thing is to read the meter yourself and compare to reading on the bill. not only are bills estimated sometimes, but it is easy to misread a meter. you have to go from right to left, and if you have an 8 or a 9, the dial to the left will be close to a number, you have to take that number and subtract one, or else you will have a reading that is 1000 kwh too high, which must be around $450 with todays rates.
there are good websites that give instructions for reading electric meters. sounds simple, but it is tricky sometimes.

I think they are supposed to indicate on your bill if its an "estimated" reading or not. Can't remember where but there its supposed to be flagged somewhere on the bill.

Mine is always read and I don't think its been inaccurate, our prices are just way too high on island which is going to lead to massive problems going forward.

Sean

Stereo typing, have you cruised the low income props?

I know a lot of hardworking people living in projects & since I've lived here 26 years, I've also seen the statesiders who leave the island with the dogs tied up to starve to death who weren't living in projects. Cruelty & stupid spending priorities aren't limited to bahn here Virgin Islanders. You were just coming off to me as a bit racist but that might just be what I'm reading into your remarks.

I am not racist.................you don't have to be black to live in the projects!!!
My former sister in law is white, she has 4 kids by the same white man & has made a career living off the government.
She lives in government sub housing. As a matter of fact, not only does she live there, but she gets paid by the government to live there.........about $ 100 per month (the gov pays her rent & an additional check made payable to her) . She gets a crap load of food stamps (now a debit card)...and if she cries to her case worker they give her additional, no questions asked. Utilities....hers are income based or budget billing & if she doesn't have the money to pay that...........fear not, they'll handle it!!! Lets talk phones, with children in the house it has been deemed a necessary.......................along with unlimited long distance...............again boo friggin hoooo she can't pay, they take over!
If that doesn't get ur undies knotted, try cable TV.........did you know it was considered educational???? And that she has the God given right to have every channel known to man for damn near free............or boo hoo to the case worker & yet again her bills are paid!!!!!
On top of all those fringes bens, she has free medical, free dental & vision..............new furniture, flat screen TV, and a tricked out ride.....how ever, due to city oridance, chickens are illegal & pit bulls are to be register with the police department & humane shelters & additional insurances too, or I bet she would have them!
So before you call out the racist card ............read on......................
I also have friends in the projects, they are good people & try really hard to make life better for them & their families.
So I cruise..............I pick up trash...........and I know plenty of folks in the projects..........and I observe..............bony ponies.........tied up pits & chickens in cages!! Not to mention some of the best real estate in Christiansted!!!!
And just to make myself even clearer, the white trash that leave an animal behind should be hunted dwn & prosecuted!!!!
So its not a back thang nor is it a white thang, get it!

She lives in the Virgin Islands?

Just wondering...does VI have the highest rates per KWh under the US flag? Even Puerto Rico uses natural gas so I'm trying to imagine another scenario where rates are higher unless it's some atoll in the middle of the Pacific ocean.

Trade............naw in the states!
Sheesh, if she lived in the VI, I'd have her hook me up!.........again only kidding
Trade we got off on the wrong foot....I'm sorry if I offended you.

I think you've missed the BIG hypocrisy (sp.) here - from what I was told (and I can't verify) a LOT of WAPA employees live in government housing!!! I got this from a business owner with a shop right next to a set of projects who has a lot of customers from the projects. Maybe this explains why nobody at WAPA is personally incented to do something about their problems - they don't experience the high bills like most other people.

Yes they do have to pay WAPA bill, alot of which is monies provided by a Government Assistance check, that I as a tax payer paid for! So not only do I pay my WAPA bill, but theirs as well. Stereo typing, have you cruised the low income props? Have you seen the ponies tied to trees, cages of pitbulls & chickens??? No to mention the wonderful water view????
Don't get me wrong, alot of good people live there & try really hard to make a better life for themselves & a good paying job isn't all that easy to come by............I was having a lil fun & sorry if it was a bit too true!

No problem, Islandtyme. Living in the projects is based on income. Workers with dependants don't always make enough to pay the rent it would take to live in a privately owned house or apartment. Not all the people in projects here are sitting on their backsides doing nothing is my point.

If I am not mistaken, the housing was taken over by the feds because it was being givin to "undeserving" people when it was under local control.....The hook up and all that..

I don't think WAPA employees have heard of their companies financial woes....On Thursday I was traveling eastbound on the highway and was passed by a shiny new WAPA Isuzu, I was doing 60 they must have have passed me at 70, accelerating uphill, towards a red light.

On another note, has anyone else on Feeder #3 on St. Croix lost power for an hour every other day for the past week? I have given up on my bedside digital clocks and have decided to go back to an old wind-up alarm clock my grandpa gave me.

Finally last Friday on St. Croix, WAPA's stack was billowing thick black smoke visible from the South Shore, this was the third incident I remember witnessing in the past year. These opacities are air quality events which WAPA is required to report to DPNR and the EPA, during the last event I placed a report through EPA's website http://www.epa.gov/tips/ and encourage others to do the same and call DPNR when they see such events. Federal regulations may put additional pressure on WAPA to maintain and run their equipment more efficiently.

Power out again.....third day in a row.....15mins spent trying to report the outage....Anybody else?