IHOP - $12,600 WAPA BILL FOR TWO WEEKS

I think the US government and the VI government would be better off investing in making WAPA a more efficient utility by exploring and--expeditiously--implementing solar, wind, and/or wave power. The USVIs are perfectly situated for taking advantage of all three.

But first, I think WAPA needs to account for just WHERE the LEAC fees that users have been paying actually have gone; now that fuel costs have somewhat stabilized, WAPA needs to adjust its base kWh charge and remove the "adjustment" from LEAC; and it needs to inform the public when it can expect LEAC charges to become more predictable.

It is simply outrageous that an electric bill (mine) for $43.13 of actual power usage has a LEAC surcharge of $186.83!

From WAPA's website:
"Approximately 75% of WAPA’s budget is expended on fuel costs, which are highly susceptible to wide market fluctuations. These costs are recovered through the LEAC. About 25% of WAPA’s budget pays for personnel, debt service, maintenance, insurance, and other costs that are reasonably predictable and necessary. These operating costs are recovered through base rate revenues (presently labeled as “consumption” on customers’ bills) and not through the LEAC."

Great...then please explain to me why the LEAC charge on my bill is more than 4 TIMES the consumption charge???

when business establishments have the air on higher that the comsumer would like is also so the employee will be a bit more comfortable in the working conditions, especially enclosed restaurants.

when i worked at a pizz hut up north, customers were always complaining in the summer about how cold it was inside, imagine working next to 400-500 degree ovens all day long when the temp outside is 90+ and the humidity makes it 100+. i would rather not sweat in your food or drink. of course when the air broke every summer they would complain about that too.

In many cases, restaurants keep the air colder to facilitate table turnover. If a customer is slightly chilled, they're more likely to leave rather than to sit around chatting after the meal is finished. Ever noticed that the bar area is usually somewhat warmer than the table area?

In many cases, restaurants keep the air colder to facilitate table turnover. If a customer is slightly chilled, they're more likely to leave rather than to sit around chatting after the meal is finished. Ever noticed that the bar area is usually somewhat warmer than the table area?

Works on me everytime. Works soooo well, I don't even stay around to eat.

This lady estimated her WAPA bill to be $400,000. I think she'll be in for a surprise.

http://virginislandsdailynews.com/news/1.1217552#axzz1b85aw3bD

FYI, the link above refers to the owner of the Ice Palace, for those who don't want to follow the link.

This is really exciting.
Oct 7th Avis, a "Large Solar Energy Project is announced for Puerto Rico. A $98 Mill project financed by private investors to provide enough energy to 6,500 homes by mid 2012 with an estimated 40% drop in power bills."

On Channel 8 TV last wk, the"" Dominican Repub in a partnership with Puerto Rico established a wind farm which is producing 3 mw and powers 90,000 homes at considerably less than before."

And The Sunshine Project, a partnership with Kona, HI, the Navy and Saga Univ will bring cheaper elect with ocean thermal conversion.

These projects could do so much for businesses, residential customers and gov't entities who use large amts of electricity. The less you have to spend on electricity, the more you have to spend on other consumer goods to help the economy.

I guess there are alternatives out there and this will be a boon to Dom. Repub, PR and Hi. Not so much for the VI tho.

Holy bats**t Robin! I think it's called "political will."

The saddest and most unfortunate part of all of this is that the VI are PERFECTLY situated to exploit wind, wave, and solar power and NOBODY HERE IN POWER (pun intended) IS INTERESTED. The VI should be on the FOREFRONT of renewable energy generation. There is absolutely NO reason why we should still be using oil to generate power. N.O.N.E.

The saddest and most unfortunate part of all of this is that the VI are PERFECTLY situated to exploit wind, wave, and solar power and NOBODY HERE IN POWER (pun intended) IS INTERESTED. The VI should be on the FOREFRONT of renewable energy generation. There is absolutely NO reason why we should still be using oil to generate power. N.O.N.E.

I totally agree with this. However in my opinion, nothing will change because WAPA & Gov't in total doesn't want any real change because "they would lose control" plus a a good portion of their management & employee base would no longer have a job..

Jumbie-STX

I think people one by one will go solar on grid or off. If they go off grid, WAPA totally loses out. It would behoove them to provide some viable incentive to keep people connected to infrastructure, but I don't think they can see past the fly on the end of their nose.

The saddest and most unfortunate part of all of this is that the VI are PERFECTLY situated to exploit wind, wave, and solar power and NOBODY HERE IN POWER (pun intended) IS INTERESTED. The VI should be on the FOREFRONT of renewable energy generation. There is absolutely NO reason why we should still be using oil to generate power. N.O.N.E.

Actually...Lots of people are interested, including people at WAPA, and efforts are being made.

Please go to the VI Energy Office website: http://www.vienergy.org/ -scroll down their main page and and download their renewable energy proposals and recent reports. It's well worth reading by those who are serious about this island's energy future. WAPA has participated in these studies. The link to the "EDIN" island nations energy project is also worth reading: http://www.edinenergy.org/usvi.html

Also, WAPA's St Croix solar project bid process is underway. Update on it was posted today at http://stcroixsource.com/content/news/local-news/2011/10/19/wapa-solar-project-delayed-enthusiastic-response-rfp

Note: Oil -or fossil fuel, will be part of the solution for many years to come. The biggest reason for this is that solar and wind cannot sustain a base level of energy in the grid because they are not always "on" ...and storage on that scale is incredibly expensive.

Neil, I understand that a backup method of power generation is necessary, and fossil fuel is one of the near-term answers, but it's not the only answer, and it's definitely not the only long-term answer.

Think about this: we could build a small nuclear power plant here and power all three islands for next to nothing. There are companies that provide nuclear power generation FROM BARGES that could come in here SOON, take WAPA completely offline while building a permanent nuclear plant, and SIGNIFICANTLY reduce power costs for EVERYONE while other renewable options are tossed around in the interminable, corrupted bureaucratic mess of the VI government.

I know some people are leary of nuclear power, but it's safer now than it's ever been, and it should be considered as a viable option.

okay, i vote we put it on PR (downwind of us) and let them send us the cheap power.

Love to have it on stx, and the jobs! With two thirds of Hovensa closed down it'd be nice to have something to fill that void. These little nuclear plants are right on the beach in California and do not smell and take up little room.

Good evening,

Nuclear energy is wonderful; however, NRC demands an Evacuation Plan be in place should an accident or other event occur How does one evacuate the Virgin Islands and - most probably - the other islands in the Caribbean because of either scenerio? Additionally, The Department of Homeland Security may feel somewhat uncomfortable with a Nuclear Power Plant in the islands.

Just a thought....

Swan

The whole world is gonna blow up someday, so bring it on and screw Homeland Security 😀

If there was reasonably priced energy, there would be PLENTY of jobs to go around for anyone who wanted to work.

The whole world is gonna blow up someday, so bring it on and screw Homeland Security 😀

😀 Is that the near earth asteroid (NEO) you are referring to, Jumbie??? I think Jupiter will grab it and hurl it away from Earth, since she protects us from these occurrences...What a gal! .
Swan

Department of Homeland Security will have a evacuation plan, whether or not it works is not the bureaucracy's fault, they just have to have a plan. They would not hold up a nuclear plant. The local government? Of coarse they would. It's all make believe. Nothing's going to change until enough people buy their own solar and their customer pool shrink's enough to affect them. And that will take a long time to never because solar is so expensive, big and another maintenance project for the homeowner.

The whole world is gonna blow up someday, so bring it on and screw Homeland Security 😀

😀 Is that the near earth asteroid (NEO) you are referring to, Jumbie??? I think Jupiter will grab it and hurl it away from Earth, since she protects us from these occurrences...What a gal! .
Swan

Actually wasn't referring to the asteroid. Was more or less a tongue in cheek comment.
Jumbie

If "small" nuclear power was a viable answer right now, then right now you'd see far more competent municipalities, states, and power companies than the VI govt getting into it. Which begs the question, "Why aren't they?"

One issue is the new small scale technology itself. It has not been proven by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. People like to say, "well the Navy has been operating..." but the new proposed reactors are different (including not surrounded by the navy). Several proposed small reactors are being tested by folks like Westinghouse, but as of yet, known have been vetted for the market, and several have been flops.

Another issue causing the nuclear agencies to drag their feet is "proliferation" and security. Some new small nuke power plant designs do not contain weapons grade uranium, but they do contain plenty of radioactive material to create dirty bombs, or a dirty fallout.

Maybe we should start a pro-nuclear movement here in the VI...anybody up for some fun? LOL

Good morning,

The whole world is gonna blow up someday, so bring it on and screw Homeland Security 😀

"Actually wasn't referring to the asteroid. Was more or less a tongue in cheek comment. "
Jumbie

I know you weren't referring to NEOs which I mentioned in my previous posting Jumbie; I was just kidding around. Please accepy my apologies for any misunderstandings that may have been taken from my comment.

(Jupiter, however, because of her strong gravitational pull, does throw off many asteroids aimed at Earth..and yet she, too, has tossed a couple our way. I think she is fickled .....:D )

Swan

Swans -- no apology needed -- I like your take on the planets.

Another factor re Nuclear is the health risk. Dr. Carl Johnson, the Health Dept Director in Jefferson County, Colorado did a study to find out why there were so many cancer clusters and people suffering other illnesses in Denver and Jefferson County (25 mi SW of Denver). His study found radiation dust that had settled in many of these homes where children and adults had serious medical illnesses. Including, but not limited to: tumors, childhood Leukemias, respiratory illnesses, uncontrolled bleeding, etc.

His study found that radiation dust settles within a 50 sq mile from where it was being generated which was Rocky Flats Nuclear facility.

When Dr. Carl Johnson brought his findings to the authorities in both Denver and Jefferson Counties in the early 80's, he was relieved of his duties. Neither county wanted to hear the truth as they were in a huge housing boon. They even covered up important toxic waste problems to developers which later on came back to haunt them.
He went on to do alot of work involving chemicals in the air and water.

I don't really think that citizens in the VI or elsewhere want to be irradiated.