USVI Public Records

Document text

SENATORS RECEIVE UPDATE ON STATUS OF WATER AND POWER AUTHORITY AND CONSIDER BILL TO REPLACE THE BOARD - Legislature of the United States Virgin Islands Close About Us History Functions and Structure FY 2026 Budget Honor Roll Rules of the 36th Legislative Youth Advisory Council Application Careers Archives Legislative Archives Tours × St. Thomas Senators  St. John Senators  St.Croix Senators  Districts All Senators St. Croix St. Thomas - St. John Senator at Large × Committees Committee of the Whole Budget, Appropriation and Finance Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure and Planning Economic Development and Agriculture Education and Workforce Development Government Operations, Veteran Affairs and Consumer Protection Health, Hospitals and Human Services Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety Housing, Transportation and Telecommunications Rules and Judiciary Session Folder × No event found! Calendars Bi-Weekly Senate Calendar Session Agenda × Dialog window Dialog window General Senators Committees Media Calendars Contact News | Press Releases SENATORS RECEIVE UPDATE ON STATUS OF WATER AND POWER AUTHORITY AND CONSIDER BILL TO REPLACE THE BOARD Published: Jul 17, 2020 Search for: ST. THOMAS – Members of the 33rd Legislature led by Senate President Novelle E. Francis, Jr. convened in Committee of the Whole at the Capitol Building on Friday to receive an update on the status of WAPA regarding operations, financial management, use of federal funds, billing, issuance of credits, power outages, and capital projects. Lawmakers also received testimony on Bill No. 33-0346- An Act establishing a Management and Oversight Review Committee for the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA). Invited testifiers were officials from the Authority, the WAPA Governing Board, and the Public Service Commission (PSC). As a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Authority partially shifted employees from office operations to teleworking with a call-in only customer service model. To ensure safety for the employees and patrons onsite, temperature screenings are conducted, hand sanitizer dispensers are accessible, and masks along with gloves are disseminated daily; according to Kupfer. Sen. Francis expressed dissatisfaction with the poor customer service at the Authority. “WAPA has a history of deplorable customer service. Generally, when a customer calls, they are greeted with an automated machine and the chances of speaking to a representative are very low. Customer service is worth probing because there are a lot of issues.” Separately, Kupfer mentioned that progress was made with the billing process, meters were accessed and replaced as needed, and there is a reduction in the monthly bills distributed to consumers. To prevent additional power outages in the St. Croix District and the St. Thomas-St. John District, the Authority repaired equipment such as the switchgear that feeds the electricity at the plant and the generator breaker for Unit 15. Regarding federal funds, Kupfer noted that FEMA obligated $529.5 million for emergency work projects; with only $469.5 million disseminated thus far. Additionally, FEMA allotted $500.9 million in obligated permanent work projects with $337.7 million distributed. Some of the Disaster Recovery related projects are the installation of composite poles, underground utility lines, and the submarine transmission system. Bill 33-0346, which is proposed by Senators Janelle Sarauw, Donna Frett-Gregory, and Kurt Vialet seeks to replace the current WAPA Board with a new Management Oversight Committee to ensure the proper management of the Authority. Sen. Sarauw defended the bill by addressing the constant deficiencies of the Authority. “WAPA has become a life or death issue. WAPA is a public health issue. WAPA bills customers sporadically, bills without probable cause, and send out bills for three prior months. The legalization of this structure is a problem. The people of the Virgin Islands are exhausted. Bill No. 33-0346 comes in to save WAPA from itself,” Sen. Sarauw said. Similarly, Sen. Kenneth Gittens shared the same sentiment. “WAPA continues to fail, fail, fail. There is a problem with the management.” However, PSC Executive Director Donald Cole indicated that with the newly specified criteria, it will be challenging to fill Board positions due to the high level of skills and experience required to meet qualifications of becoming a member. Furthermore, Cole stated that there are provisions in the bill that already exist such as Act 7075 to develop an energy plan to determine appropriate and fair base rates. Sen. Oakland Benta queried the effects of the bill if signed into law. WAPA Executive Director Lawrence Kupfer noted that the measure may raise concerns with federally funded projects, specifically from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and US Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Approval from FEMA and HUD are necessary. ### Find More Search for: Categories News Observances Press Releases Special Events Related Content COMMITTEE REVIEWS FY 2027 EXECUTIVE BUDGET REQUESTS FOR GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, AND BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES July 23, 2026 ST. CROIX, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – Members of the Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance, chaired by Senator Novelle E. Francis Jr., met in the Frits E. Lawaetz Conference Room to receive testimony on the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budgets for... Read More COMMITTEE RECEIVES UPDATES FROM WASTE MANAGEMENT CONCERNING SEWAGE HEALTH RISKS, CANCER CARE IN THE TERRITORY                                   July 22, 2026 ST. THOMAS, VI – The 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands’ Committee on Health, Hospitals, and Human Services, led by Senator Ray Fonseca, met at the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall.  Lawmakers received testimony concerning the potential and observed public... Read More SENATORS CONSIDER PROPOSED HORSE RACE LEGISLATION IN SPECIAL SESSION  July 22, 2026 Members of the 36th Legislature, led by Senate President Milton E. Potter, convened at the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall. Lawmakers met in special session by request of the governor to consider Bill No. 36-0313, an act approving lease and franchise agreements for the development and operation of the Randall “Doc”... Read More Quick Links Home Senators Committees Media News Contact Important Links Revised Organic Act of 1954 (PDF) 36th Oath of Office Booklet 100 Day Report Rules of the 36th Public Information or Archives Request Search for: Follow Follow Follow Follow