It’s still a year away, but relief is in sight for Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) customers.
Beginning in the fall of 2014, propane will become the primary fuel for power generation in the US Virgin Islands, according to a WAPA release. This change is expected to reduce the region’s (astronomically high) fuel costs by 30 percent. That’s a pretty big chunk of change. In addition, the use of propane is also expected to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by about 20 percent. This news is not only great for everyone’s pocketbooks, but it’s also great for the environment.
Now we’re not saying that all of the savings will be passed along to the consumer, but if they were, it has the potential to be huge. Just to give you an idea of just how big of a deal this could be, one of our advertisers said he pays an average of $3,000 a month to power his North Shore rental villa. This change has the potential to save this property owner roughly $900 a month or $10,800 a year. Who wouldn’t want an extra $10k in their pocket?!
WAPA said it expects the change will save roughly $90 million is annual fuel costs. It also said it expects rates will fall again after five years. Let’s hope that holds true.
So we’re curious- We know that St. John has some of the highest power rates in the world. What do you pay where you live?
Even if Wapa saves 30% on Fuel, I find it completely unlikely that they would pass the ENTIRE savings on to us. That is just not how business works. Just saying, before you start subtracting 30% from a bill think again
You’re right Jared, which is why it says there is the “potential” to save that much.
we own 2 villas in st where the electrical costs have catapulted to 2000-2500 per month. unfortunately they are rented and we have no control over their electrical usage. we do have semi solar power and door controls that monitor when no one is in the villa and shuts it down with limited success. all in all a very nonsatisfying experience.
i have thought about installing a complete solar system but have found the costs prohibitive, if anyone knows of any other way to install a solar system econically i would greatly appreciate any advice….thank you….joe horstmann
In summer months I pay $600+ to air condition my small two bedroom apartment.
By the time WAPA is done with us, prices will have to go up, temporality of course, as new equipment has to be installed. ;~))
What ever happened to us joining the Puerto Rico grid?
The rate in Dallas is about $.08 per kilowatt hour. Including all the fees, its about $50 in the USVI. North Texas electrical is nuclear and natural gas powered. USVI is diesel.
We have been able to cut our electric on our St John house by about 40% over the last two years by resetting timers on the pool and fish pond, lowering the temp on the water heaters, etc. The motors are what kill you on electric.The basic conservation steps mean a lot more here!!
We have looked at solar, but we’re in the forest and partially in a gut so don’t get enough hours of sunlight per day. We may try passive solar water heaters. We run our poll water through about 50′ of black garden hose, and it raises the pool temp about 5 degrees.
My total rate, including all fees, in Brookfield IL is 7 cents/kilowatt hour. When I lived in St John (from 1997 to 2011), I saw my monthly bill go from about $40 to $160. My wife and I only ran a fridge, water pump, washer and dryer, and lights, and all very conservatively. WAPA is out of control….