Sept. 25, 2001 – The transfer of responsibility for the territory's street lights from the Public Works Department to the Water and Power Authority has moved one step further toward completion, WAPA announced in a release Monday.
Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd has proposed legislation requested by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull for the transfer. Joseph Thomas, WAPA executive director, said that a required "due diligence study" of the transfer will be ready in mid-October for presentation to the Legislature.
The due diligence outline covers the structure, assets, liabilities and rate impact of the proposed transfer. Thomas said he believes WAPA will be able to manage the lights effectively, although he expressed concern about the technical state of the system. For the utility, "This is taking on a new business," he commented.
WAPA is on schedule for meeting deadlines set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for placing feeders to the territory's hospitals and airports underground, the release, quoting from a recent board meeting, said.
On the agenda for the October board meeting is a report from a WAPA consultant, Scadden and Arps, on the proposal that the utility agree to purchase electricity and water that would be produced by Caribe Waste Technologies in a gasification plant CWT plans to build to treat the territory's solid waste matter. WCT officials have said WAPA's commitment to purchase the power and water is key to the operation being financially feasible.
