CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority admitted on Facebook this morning that a “major” power outage is affecting its customers in St. Thomas and St. John this morning.
“The interruption occurred at 9:35 a.m. when two generating units at the Randolph Harley Power Plant tripped off-line,” WAPA said. “Plant personnel are working to rebuild generation capacity in order to restore service to the affected customers.”
WAPA said its Water Distribution crews are also “mobilizing to begin repairs to a major leak on the 24-inch main that runs along the St. Thomas waterfront.”
WAPA said its “leaking line will be isolated to facilitate repairs and rerouting of service will take place to minimize the impact on customers.” according to the authority.
“Some customers in the town area as well as those in higher elevations may experience low water pressure or no water service until repairs are completed,” WAPA said.
WAPA said it’s personnel are also “continuing efforts to restart generating units at the power plant.”
“Rebuilding generation capacity is necessary before service can be restored to customers,” WAPA said. “Once capacity has been rebuilt, restoration of service to customers will occur quickly.”
As of 3 p.m. today, WAPA said “electrical service has been restored to all customers but those on Feeders 7C, 7E and 9E. 7E and 9E provide service to St. John.”
“Currently, two generating units are dispatched at the Randolph Harley Power Plant and personnel are working to bring an additional generating unit on-line so as to increase generation capacity and restore service to all affected customers,” WAPA said. “Efforts will continue until all customers are restored.”
WAPA said a Line Department crew on St. John was dispatched to determine the cause of an interruption on Feeder 9E.
“The feeder was restored at 5:10 pm, and tripped off-line shortly afterwards,” the authority said.
WHAT FEEDER AM I ON?
http://www.viwapa.vi/…/PDFs/Feeder_Listing_STT_STJ.sflb.ashx
