WAPA Announces Andrew Smith, Who Has Almost 30 Years of Electric Utility Experience, as New CEO

The V.I. Water and Power Authority governing board has announced its choice for chief executive officer to run WAPA, after what the authority said was a four-month extensive search for the right candidate.  The board announced Andrew L. Smith as WAPA's new CEO, and Mr. Smith started his tenure at the authority today. Mr. Smith takes the helm at a critical time for WAPA, with rising fuel and propane costs continuing to affect the authority's finances. The new chief executive must also navigate the important work of transitioning WAPA to a more efficient utility through federal funding provided to the authority following the devastating storms of 2017. "The critical necessity to repower the leadership within VIWAPA is evidenced by the authority’s struggles, and by extension the territory’s utility burdens, which have stemmed from continued underperformance at the leadership level," said WAPA Board Chairman Kyle Fleming in a statement. "This highlights the governing board’s focus on es...