The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, with support from an outside contractor, is working to resolve two underground cable faults that caused power outages in Downtown Christiansted this weekend. The unexpected electrical outage primarily affected customers on King Street, Company Street, Queen Street, and Hill Street.
The damage was triggered by the excessive rainfall over the past week, which caused flooding in manholes and completely submerged underground powerlines, leading to the failures. While power was restored to most affected customers by 8 p.m. Monday night, St. Mary’s School remains without power as crews continue to repair the underground transformer.
Efforts to complete the repairs and restore service have been delayed by the need to pump water out of the manholes to safely conduct repairs and by material shortages affecting the availability of critical parts.
Underground power systems offer many benefits over above-ground poles, including greater resistance to wind damage and improved aesthetics. However, this work can be complex, particularly when faced with issues such as flooding. To reduce the risk of flooding in manholes, WAPA is exploring preventative measures, including scheduling maintenance and management for low water levels after heavy rains.
Crews from WAPA and the contractor began work on Sunday and are continuing their efforts to address the transformer issue affecting St. Mary’s School. WAPA apologizes for the inconvenience to our businesses and residents and appreciates the public’s understanding as work progresses to safely complete the repairs.
