WAPA progress on STX

Gotta give them some deserved thanks. I emailed them on their site yesterday and they were out within 2 -3 hours to fix an issue on their end. (tu):D

4/2/2018

THE USVI IS SET TO HAVE A MUCH STRONGER POWER GRID, FEMA SAYS

And the people rejoiced.....

4/2/2018

THE USVI IS SET TO HAVE A MUCH STRONGER POWER GRID, FEMA SAYS

And the people rejoiced.....

...with scepticism.

yep

4/2/2018

THE USVI IS SET TO HAVE A MUCH STRONGER POWER GRID, FEMA SAYS

And the people rejoiced.....

...with scepticism.

Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Tammy

4/13/18

WAPA NOW ISSUING SECOND ROUND OF POST-STORM BILLS FOR ELECTRICAL AND POTABLE WATER SERVICE

"The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority advises its customers that the second round of post-storm bills for electrical and potable water service are now being issued. As with the initial set of bills, some will be based on actual consumption and others will be estimated.

WAPA is rebuilding its automated metering systems, and until they are fully restored, meter services personnel continue to manually read meters. “The physical reading of the meters has caused a delay in WAPA’s ability to process bills for a normal billing cycle. As a result, this second wave of post-storm bills are for extended billing periods. The bills that are now being issued will cover the period from the customer’s last meter read date to late March,” said Lawrence Kupfer, WAPA Executive Director. In addition, the Authority will continue to offer payment plans to customers on a case-by-case basis.

Additionally, Kupfer said, when WAPA resumed billing for post-storm services, the utility applied its two-tier rate structure across the customer’s entire consumption total, as if it represented an ordinary billing cycle. To correct this issue, WAPA will be issuing a credit shortly, to all affected customers, based on consumption during the bill period. The two-tier payment structure provides one rate for the consumption of up to 250-kilowatt hours, and a slightly higher rate for consumption in excess of 250-kilowatt hours. "

I was wondering if they were going to acknowledge hitting us with the second tier rate for two months of consumption. Also wondering what got broken with automated meter reaading. Certainly not my meter.

Anyone getting a Wapa bill, haven't gotten one since February

Automated meter reading is done remotely using a broadband technology system. That system broke - not the counting function of the meter attached to your home.

In FL, Duke had a "double month" recently and its billing system caused "overcharging" as is happening with WAPA now. Customers received credits for this "overcharge" - so there is a precedence.

https://www.ferc.gov/CalendarFiles/20070423091846-EPRI%20-%20Advanced%20Metering.pdf

4/13/18

WAPA NOW ISSUING SECOND ROUND OF POST-STORM BILLS FOR ELECTRICAL AND POTABLE WATER SERVICE

"The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority advises its customers that the second round of post-storm bills for electrical and potable water service are now being issued. As with the initial set of bills, some will be based on actual consumption and others will be estimated.

WAPA is rebuilding its automated metering systems, and until they are fully restored, meter services personnel continue to manually read meters. “The physical reading of the meters has caused a delay in WAPA’s ability to process bills for a normal billing cycle. As a result, this second wave of post-storm bills are for extended billing periods. The bills that are now being issued will cover the period from the customer’s last meter read date to late March,” said Lawrence Kupfer, WAPA Executive Director. In addition, the Authority will continue to offer payment plans to customers on a case-by-case basis.

Additionally, Kupfer said, when WAPA resumed billing for post-storm services, the utility applied its two-tier rate structure across the customer’s entire consumption total, as if it represented an ordinary billing cycle. To correct this issue, WAPA will be issuing a credit shortly, to all affected customers, based on consumption during the bill period. The two-tier payment structure provides one rate for the consumption of up to 250-kilowatt hours, and a slightly higher rate for consumption in excess of 250-kilowatt hours. "

I was wondering if they were going to acknowledge hitting us with the second tier rate for two months of consumption. Also wondering what got broken with automated meter reaading. Certainly not my meter.

Anyone getting a Wapa bill, haven't gotten one since February

No we have not rec’d another bill. Last bill rec’d was in Feb & was an estimated bill due 3/19. I pd it & nothing rec’d since.

We have a condo that power restored 11/29/17. Nobody at condo until 1/4/18. We left 4/4/18. The Feb bill was an estimate & was based on premise that condo was unoccupied. WAPA is one screwed up company.

I heard from very good source that main feeder lines are going underground over next 5-6 years. And beyond main lines, many poles will be replaced w composite poles that withstand 200 mph winds. What % will be replaced I have no idea. I’m guessing they are critical ones that service hospital, government, schools, high population areas, etc. but on that I am just guessing.

I heard from very good source that main feeder lines are going underground over next 5-6 years. And beyond main lines, many poles will be replaced w composite poles that withstand 200 mph winds. What % will be replaced I have no idea. I’m guessing they are critical ones that service hospital, government, schools, high population areas, etc. but on that I am just guessing.[/quo

JFL hospital is already serviced with a dedicated underground feeder far as I know. They'd probably run an underground distribution line to the airport. It's logical to expect schools, business districts, and higher population areas to get hardened with composite poles if not underground distribution. I recall the feeder to downtown C'sted and distribution to government buildings and most downtown businesses is already underground which was why they were the first to get power after Maria.

 

FEMA ANNOUNCES $238.4 MILLION GRANT TO WAPA FOR HARDENING OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS

The hardening of the territory’s electrical infrastructure will also include the underground distribution of feeders in critical locations territory-wide, and development of a micro-grid for St. John. Once all projects are completed, coupled with other mitigation projects completed in the aftermath of prior year storms, more than 50 percent of WAPA’s customers will receive electrical service through underground facilities, according to Mr. Kupfer.

Everybody derseves benefit of the doubt but WAPA & the VI Government’s past track record suggests both fail to use their grant $$ for their intended use.