An electrical fault on a distribution feeder and operational challenges with two generating units resulted in a major electrical service interruption affecting customers in the St. Thomas - St. John district Sunday night.

Shortly before 7:30 p.m., a high magnitude fault on Feeder 6A, inside the Randolph Harley Power Plant, resulted in four of the five dispatched generating units tripping off-line which cascaded to the loss of all but two distribution feeders. As part of a protection system, when a major upset or electrical fault occurs, the generators are designed to trip offline to head off major damage to the units and to the power plant.

Most customers on the islands of St. Thomas, St. John, Hassel Island and Water Island were affected last night.

For the next several hours, plant personnel worked to resolve operational issues with two generators, Units 15 and 23, while Line Department personnel made repairs to the damaged equipment on Feeder 6A.

At 12:25 a.m. Monday, with two generators online, electrical service was restored to all customers.

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