The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) is in the process of building out the Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system. A key component of AMI is the new Smart Meters. WAPA began the process of changing customers’ electrical meters to the Smart Meter in 2014, and it is currently 90 percent complete in the St. Thomas-St. John District and 75 percent complete on St. Croix. Overall benefits of the new meters are accuracy, reliability and convenience. The smart meters have proven successful, specifically as it relates to their ability to bring about increased efficiency to the system.
The authority’s Internal Audit Revenue Assurance Division (IARA) wants customers to understand that with the new meters, there is a heightened security of the system and severe implications for persons who tamper with the electrical meters. As the enforcement arm of WAPA, IARA brings awareness to some security issues concerning electrical meters:
Customers or electricians are not authorized to remove WAPA’s seals or meters without applying for a tag and meter removal at the business office. This process will ensure that only WAPA’s personnel remove, inspect and replace the seal and meter correctly when repairs are completed.
Customers or electricians are not authorized to disconnect or reconnect service weather-heads. Customers or their electricians are required to come into WAPA’s business office to complete a temporary disconnect/reconnect application to ensure proper disconnection and reconnection to the WAPA’s system.
Violations of these regulations will result in monetary fines and/or prosecution, and they will directly impact the customer or owner of the electrical service in question.
WAPA asks that any missing or broken seals be reported to it immediately by contacting the Internal Audit Revenue Assurance Division by telephone or e-mail:
St Croix: 773-2250 (ext. 4049 or 4054)
St Thomas-St. John-Water Island: 774-3552 (ext. 2090 or 2091)
Hotline: 715-6563
E-mail: reportservicetheft@viwapa.vi
WAPA thanks its customers for their continued cooperation in keeping the system safe.
