Power failures prompt plans for WAPA protest today on St. Thomas, St. John

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority crews repaired a major transmission line in the St. Thomas-St. John District on Saturday. But rolling blackouts have continued because the plant’s largest generator remains out of service, and fed-up customers have called for a protest at noon today in Emancipation Garden on St. Thomas.

The transmission line, Feeder 13, carries power to the eastern side of St. Thomas. It failed Tuesday afternoon, setting off rotating blackouts .

Feeder 13 previously failed for a week in mid-September and again for two days in October, leaving only one functional transmission line, Feeder 12. Feeder 11 was damaged by the 2017 hurricanes and is not in service. The transmission lines are different from neighborhood distribution lines listed on feeder maps.

On Friday, WAPA released a video that showed project management director Chavante Marsh-Bultes explaining efforts to repair Feeder 13, the day after the latest blackouts began.