ST. THOMAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – October 26, 2024 – The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (“WAPA” or the “Authority”) announces potential service interruptions tomorrow, October 27, 2024, between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. as contractors from Wärtsilä carry out essential commissioning tests for Phase 2 of the Wärtsilä engines. No feeder is expected to be without service for more than two hours.

What is Commissioning?

Commissioning is a critical process to prepare the new Wärtsilä Phase 2 engines for safe and reliable operation. During commissioning, engineers conduct detailed tests to confirm that all safety shutdown mechanisms function correctly and verify that each system component performs as required. This rigorous inspection process is essential to ensure the engines meet the highest safety and performance standards and are ready for reliable integration into the power grid.

Why Might There Be Outages?

As part of the testing process, the existing Wärtsilä Phase 1 engines will temporarily go offline, and the Phase 2 engines will also be offline for emergency shutdown tests. These precautionary measures ensure a smooth commissioning process and help reduce operational risks. During this time, WAPA’s generation capacity will be reduced, which may lead to brief service outages in some areas. WAPA and Wärtsilä teams are committed to completing the work promptly to minimize any inconvenience to the community.

WAPA thanks the public for their understanding and patience as we work to enhance the reliability and efficiency of power services in the Virgin Islands.

The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority Communication’s department is committed to reaching, informing, and connecting with the youngest members of the community to the eldest, through meaningful, transparent and effective communication.

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