The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority announced today that rotating outages will begin at approximately 12 p.m. for customers in the St. Thomas–St. John District.

The current situation highlights the limits of a power system that relies primarily on fuel to meet demand. While light fuel oil and liquified petroleum gas have served the district, interruptions—whether operational or due to transit delays—can reduce available generation. This underscores the importance of a broader, more flexible energy mix.

Across the territory, progress in renewables and storage has already proven valuable, and the experience in St. Croix demonstrates how additional resources on the grid can help buffer the impact of short-term challenges. WAPA’s ongoing investments in solar, storage, and system modernization aim to bring the same level of resilience and balance to St. Thomas and St. John, reducing the need for rotating outages and improving long-term energy security for all Virgin Islanders.

Immediate Operational Response

Upon confirmation of the delay, WAPA activated all available diesel generation capacity to maintain power for as many customers as possible. While this allows the Authority to keep the majority of the grid online, the temporary loss of LPG terminal will result in a generation capacity shortfall, necessitating a structured rotating outage plan to safely balance electrical load impacting customers on St. Thomas and St. John.

The 2-hour outage rotation schedule, including the sequence of feeder blocks, will be shared publicly and updated throughout the day as system conditions evolve.

Structural Context and Long-Term Strategy

The Authority acknowledges the bigger challenge is structural—WAPA depends heavily on maritime fuel deliveries to keep the St. Thomas/St. John district powered.

To permanently address challenges like this, WAPA is advancing a long-term energy strategy that includes expanding new solar projects, adding battery storage for greater operational stability, diversifying the overall energy mix, and continuing generation upgrades and modernization to strengthen reliability and resilience.

“These renewable projects are not just environmental choices—they provide operational resilience,” said WAPA CEO and Executive Director Karl Knight. “Unlike fuel shipments, sun and storage cannot be delayed. Accelerating renewable development is essential to increasing energy security across the Territory.”

Customer Communication and Updates

WAPA is committed to transparent, continuous communication throughout this event. Customers will receive updated information through: WAPA’s website (www.viwapa.vi), social media channels, radio and broadcast media partnerships, and customer notifications through WAPA Alerts that can be received by text, email, and voice directly to your phone (https://member.everbridge.net/892807736728730/new)