RUN IT UP THE FLAGPOLE: The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) promises to put the American and Virgin Islands flags on every flagpole in the territory before power is returned to normal customers.
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — WAPA REMINDS PUBLIC THAT BILLS NOW BEING RECEIVED ARE FOR PRE-HURRICANE ELECTRICAL SERVICE;
BILLS FOR SERVICE AFTER HURRICANES WILL BE ISSUED IN A FEW WEEKS AND MUST BE PAID WHETHER YOU OWE FOR SERVICE OR NOT.
As the Virgin Islands Water & Power Authority’s restoration efforts continue, with each island now more than 90 percent have been granted electricity on a conditional basis … customers are reminded that the bills now being received represent electrical service provided prior to the hurricanes.
WAPA acknowledges the difficulties being experienced by its business and residential customers in the aftermath of the two hurricanes, however, after several months of delay, we resumed billing in mid-December for the services rendered up to September 5th. Late fees associated with these bills are being waived. Customers are encouraged to make payments via any of the payment options available: on line at www.viwapa.vi, at the self-service payment kiosks at Petrus Plaza and Port of Sale Mall on St. Thomas and at Sunny Isle on St. Croix, as well as at local banks and Customer Service offices in Port of Sale Mall, St. Thomas, The Marketplace on St. John, and Sunny Isle on St. Croix. Checks, cash and credit cards are acceptable forms of payment at all locations.
In the next several weeks, the Authority will begin billing customers for electrical service provided after the hurricane restoration began. Some customers were fortunate to have their service restored within a week of the hurricanes and have not been billed for that service to date. WAPA will be announcing how the bills will be issued for the period beginning from the customer’s date of restoration through the end of December 2017. There will be options available for payment plans and consideration will be given, to the greatest extent possible, on a case-by-case basis.
In the meantime, WAPA encourages customers to make partial or estimated payments based on their past average bills using the many payment options available, except that such payments cannot be made to the local banks. By taking this proactive approach, a customer can avoid receiving a large bill covering the period from the date of restoration to the end of last year.
While our pledge in the ongoing restoration is:WE WILL LEAVE EVERY CUSTOMER BEHIND (one way or another) and we promised that we are working each day to restore all services, and not drinking Heineken in the shade, until the stateside crews connect everyone to electricity.