Business

WAPA, Defying PSC, Will Initatiate Base Rate Increase Wednesday

On Tuesday afternoon, the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority -- on the heels of a thorough rebuke of WAPA's actions over the years, written by Public Services Commissioner Executive Director Donald Cole -- filed for a reconsideration of the Public Services Commission decision of January 26, which rescinded an interim base rate increase the commission had approved just two weeks earlier, WAPA made known via press release late Tuesday. WAPA said today that by filing for the reconsideration of the rescinded interim base rate, it was lawfully authorized to implement the rate adjustments on February 1. In the filing, WAPA said that the PSC action was taken without notice to the authority. Additionally, WAPA added, the commission members did not discuss or provide any explanation for their actions. WAPA says it is clear from the record that the sole reason the PSC rescinded the rates was in retaliation for WAPA’s exercise of its statutory right to seek reconsideration of an order ...