WAPA successfully repairs feeder 13 and restores electrical service to st. Thomas and St. John. Photo Credit: WAPA
After a series of power interruptions and rotational power outages that affected St. Thomas and St. John, the V.I. Water and Power Authority late Saturday announced the successful restoration of electrical service to all feeders on both islands.
This complete restoration comes after a setback on Saturday, September 16, when a duct bank, designed to protect utility lines and cables, was inadvertently punctured during construction activities. The incident damaged the electrical cable within, directly impacting Feeder 13. This feeder plays a pivotal role in transmitting power from the Randolph Harley Power Plant (RHPP) on St. Thomas to the Tutu Substation.
Feeder 13, along with Feeder 12, is one of two primary transmission feeders responsible for distributing power generated at the RHPP. The damage to Feeder 13 placed additional strain on Feeder 12, which had to shoulder the bulk of the electrical load for the St. Thomas/St. John District.
The authority expressed its gratitude to the community for their patience during this challenging period and praised its employees for their dedication and tireless efforts in ensuring the restoration of power. WAPA emphasized that the unwavering commitment of its staff, along with the crucial collaboration of Electrical Conductors LLC and Haugland VI, was instrumental in the successful restoration process. Both companies provided additional crew members to assist with the repairs.
