WAPA Implements Fuel Conservation Amid High Demand and Limited Supplies

Facing an unprecedented surge in customer demand and dwindling fuel reserves, the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) has initiated fuel conservation measures to manage power generation while awaiting the next diesel shipment.

In an effort to prevent further disruptions, WAPA is calling on residents to reduce energy usage during peak periods. “We embarked on a program of fuel conservation this week while we await our next fuel shipment,” WAPA Chief Executive Officer Karl Knight said in a call with the Source Tuesday night. “We’re trying to stretch our supply to maintain capacity going into the weekend.”

WAPA has been forced to rely on more frequent diesel shipments to power the St. Thomas generation plant, Knight added. Diesel, which is more costly than propane, remains a primary fuel source for the utility, but the surge in energy consumption has exacerbated the issue. Knight explained that customer demand has reached unusually high levels, particularly during the nighttime hours, driven, for example, by the use of air conditioning in warmer-than-usual weather.