ST. THOMAS — Governor Albert Bryan Jr. has directed the Department of Human Services to pursue federal assistance for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients who lost food during days of widespread power outages on St. Thomas and St. John, while acknowledging residents' frustration and warning that bringing additional generating capacity online will take time.
The administration announced the initiative Sunday, following a series of power failures that disrupted households, businesses, schools and government operations across the district. Although WAPA reported that all electrical feeders had been restored by approximately 11:35 p.m. Saturday, the utility advised that isolated customer outages could remain.
In a letter dated Friday, October 23, Human Services Commissioner Averil George requested documentation from WAPA Chief Executive Officer Karl Knight detailing the power interruptions that began Wednesday, October 21.
The department specifically asked WAPA to confirm that the outages lasted more than four hours, provide their starting times and anticipated end, and identify the number of residents affected on St. Thomas and St. John. The information is needed to support efforts to obtain assistance for SNAP recipients whose food spoiled during the interruptions.
Government House said Mr. Bryan authorized the department to pursue the necessary information as part of the process of seeking federal approval for replacement food benefits. No such approval has been announced, and the administration has not provided an estimated timeline for distributing assistance.
Under the Department of Human Services' existing procedures, SNAP recipients who lose food purchased with their benefits because of an electrical outage lasting four hours or longer may qualify for replacement benefits. The department's published application instructions require affected households to report their losses within 10 days, with replacement assistance limited to the value of the food lost or one month's SNAP allotment, whichever is less.
Applicants must also submit the required form within 10 days of reporting their food loss. The department attempts to verify the circumstances through a third party and may request supporting documentation when independent verification is unavailable.
SNAP recipients on St. Thomas can contact the Department of Human Services at 340-774-0930 or 340-774-2399, while St. John residents may call 340-776-6334. Requests can also be directed to [email protected].
The administration's effort to obtain federal approval for broader assistance is separate from the existing household replacement process. In August 2024, following power outages caused by Tropical Storm Ernesto, the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved mass replacement benefits amounting to 75 percent of eligible recipients' monthly SNAP allotments. Those benefits were automatically loaded onto EBT cards. No comparable percentage or automatic distribution has been approved for the October 2026 outages.
In Sunday's statement, Mr. Bryan acknowledged the economic and personal hardships caused by the latest power failures, including spoiled groceries, missed work, generator expenses and concerns about residents who depend on electricity for medical needs.
The governor said he understood residents' anger over the recurring interruptions, telling the public, “I know the frustration is real.”
The latest disruptions began with a districtwide blackout Wednesday evening, followed by another widespread loss of service early Thursday. Continued generation problems prompted the closure of public schools and executive branch government offices in the district Friday, while repeated failures forced WAPA to revise or suspend its planned rotating outage schedules.
Another districtwide outage occurred Saturday afternoon as WAPA crews continued working to restore General Electric Unit 27 at the Randolph Harley Power Plant. Replacement components were airlifted from Texas and Missouri, allowing technicians to proceed with critical repairs and fuel-system work.
Although WAPA reported Saturday evening that Unit 27 was online, the generator was still undergoing testing before it could support customer demand. The authority's subsequent restoration announcement did not establish whether that testing had been completed.
Mr. Bryan said the simultaneous unavailability of generating Units 15, 23 and 27 had compounded the district's electricity shortages, leaving WAPA without sufficient backup capacity to withstand equipment failures.
He noted that the Wärtsilä generators were originally acquired to supplement the utility's older generating infrastructure, which sustained damage during Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, rather than replace every existing unit.
The administration is now pursuing additional generation through a combination of temporary equipment, replacement projects and renewable energy investments.
According to Government House, WAPA has procured 10 megawatts of standby generation for St. John, while temporary generating equipment has been ordered to help maintain electricity supplies during infrastructure replacement work at the Randolph Harley Power Plant on St. Thomas and the Estate Richmond Power Plant on St. Croix.
The administration is also advancing solar projects at Estates Bovoni and Fortuna on St. Thomas, which are expected to provide approximately 35 megawatts of additional generating capacity.
Mr. Bryan maintained that delays involving equipment manufacturing, delivery schedules and installation are now the principal obstacles to bringing additional generation online.
“At this point, the biggest challenge is not money. It is time,” he said.
The governor's remarks come as WAPA officials have separately acknowledged financial constraints affecting maintenance. During Thursday's governing board meeting, Mr. Knight said rising fuel costs had reduced the resources the authority expected to have available for routine and major equipment maintenance.
The administration is also seeking legislative approval for a $250 million bond-financing package that includes $40 million in proposed assistance for WAPA. The allocation is intended to address outstanding financial obligations and support the authority's financial stability, but the financing cannot proceed without legislative approval.
Mr. Bryan said the administration would continue supporting WAPA's immediate repair efforts while pursuing longer-term investments in the territory's electricity system. He acknowledged that despite the projects underway, the government could not guarantee that residents would be spared further outages.
