WAPA TO ISSUE 60-DAY BILLS IN MARCH

            The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority advises customers that bills issued in the month of March will represent a sixty-day service period as the Authority works to rebuild and restore both its automated metering and billing systems. Both systems were severely impacted by the 2017 hurricanes, and efforts continue toward full restoration.

            “The 60-day bill, beginning with those issued on March 10, 2020, will allow the Authority to recover more than $20 million in payments that are due for electrical and potable water service that has been provided but which has not been billed,” said Chief Financial Officer Debra Gottlieb.

            “WAPA must move to address the amounts that remain unbilled and uncollected to allow the public utility to meet its own obligations and maintain electrical and water services to residents and businesses in the territory,” said Executive Director / CEO, Lawrence J. Kupfer.

            In order to assist customers and facilitate timely payment of the current and previously unissued bills, the Authority will allow payment plans as follows: ½ in the first month, and the remainder in three monthly installments in addition to the regular monthly payments. Customers enrolled in the payment plan, must remain current with the regularly issued monthly bills.

            Since the full amount of the 60-day bill will be due 20 days from the bill date, customers who are enrolled in Auto Pay are advised to visit the WAPA Customer Service offices to make the necessary adjustment to their automated payment if they wish to take advantage of the three-month payment plan.

           Customers wishing to establish the 60-day bill payment plan must visit the Authority’s Customer Service offices during regular business hours and prior to the due date on the bill. The offices are located at Sunny Isle on St. Croix, The Marketplace on St. John, and at Port of Sale Mall on St. Thomas. To contact by telephone, on St. Croix, call 340-773-2250, select option 5, and on St. Thomas, St. John, Water Island, and Hassel Island, call 340-774-3552, select option 5.

          To provide additional opportunities for customers to participate in the payment plan, the Authority has increased the operating schedule of “Service Saturdays” which will occur on Saturday March 14^th, March 28^th, April 4^th and April 18th. On “Service Saturdays” customers can complete payment arrangements, pay bills, and seek clarification regarding both water and electric bills.

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The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority is an autonomous agency of the Virgin Islands Government which produces and distributes electricity and drinking water to residential and commercial customers in the territory. WAPA was created by the Fifth Legislature of the Virgin Islands in 1964 through Act No. 1248. Today, WAPA generates electrical power at production plants on St. Thomas and St. Croix, and distributes electrical service through smart grids to customers on St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John, Hassel Island, and Water Island. Potable water is distributed to almost 13,000 customers through water lines and standpipes. WAPA also has the responsibility of installing and maintaining street lights.