For years, Virgin Islands residents have complained that WAPA’s bills felt like guesswork — estimated charges, unexplained spikes, and adjustments that arrived months late. CEO Karl Knight doesn’t deny it. “If you take an estimate of an estimate, your accuracy starts to be skewed,” he said in a recent interview with the Source. “We owed the public something better.”
That “something better” is the Advanced Metering Infrastructure system — WAPA’s second attempt at modern smart-metering after the first generation failed more than a decade ago. The new meters, now being rolled out across all three islands, transmit readings over cellular networks instead of older radio-frequency channels that were vulnerable to interference and storm damage. Each device sends real-time consumption data directly to the utility, giving customers accurate usage records and allowing crews to spot outages instantly.
Knight said the first phase of installations is already underway, beginning with areas where meters had stopped communicating entirely. “We’ve installed several thousand new meters to replace failed ones,” he said. “The goal is complete coverage within two years.” To support that goal, WAPA has also reorganized its metering and billing divisions so that both functions report through the same chain of command — an internal change meant to close the loop between energy use, meter reads, and the bills customers receive.
Accuracy is only one part of the fix. The utility is also investing heavily in training. “We’re making sure the people who will run these systems are trained from the ground up,” Knight said. “They’re getting hands-on experience as the network is built, so they understand it inside and out.” WAPA has partnered with a project-management firm to oversee the rollout and will continue sending local staff through on-site certification courses until the full system is operational.
To prevent history from repeating itself, the new meters are being mounted on composite poles — stronger, storm-resistant supports that also serve the wider grid-hardening initiative. “We learned from the last time,” Knight said. “We’ve accounted for weather, terrain, and data reliability. These meters will stand up to island conditions.”
The results could be transformative. Reliable metering means fewer billing estimates and faster detection of energy loss, giving WAPA a clearer picture of where revenue is being lost to faulty equipment or theft. For customers, it means bills that could finally make sense. The authority also plans to introduce an online portal allowing users to view usage patterns, receive alerts, and compare consumption month to month.
Knight is cautious not to overpromise. “It’s going to take time to rebuild trust,” he said. “But if we can show people that their bills are accurate and that our system works — that’s where confidence starts.”
He acknowledged that the reputation gap runs deep. Years of deferred maintenance, outages, and billing confusion have eroded faith in the authority. Yet, he insists, WAPA’s modernization isn’t just technological — it’s cultural. “We’re shifting from reactive to proactive,” he said. “Our customers will see that every dollar they pay is tied to measurable performance.”
Related Links:
WAPA’s Financial Tightrope: Turning Around a Utility in Crisis
Building a Resilient Grid – WAPA’s Bet on Infrastructure, Renewables, and Adaption
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