Electricity

Electricity is provided by the USVI Water and Power Authority (WAPA). Generating units meet an average demand of 43 megawatts on St. Thomas 1 St. John and 30 megawatts on St. Croix. Electricity is 110 / 120 volts, single or three-phase, 60-cycle AC.

The Public Service Commission oversees electric rates for all customers. The following are some current utility rates for commercial and large power users.

Commercial $2.68 customer charge per month (single-phase minimum) and $9.71 minimum monthly charge for three-phase. The first 1000 kWh per month are billed at $11.59 per kWh; over 1000 kWh, the monthly cost is $9.74 per kWh.

Large power - $1.62 customer charge per month per kW of billing demand, plus energy charges of:

First 10 kWh per kW of billing demand or first 1000 kWh used per month (whichever is greater) cost $10.68 per kWh;

Next 90 kWh per kW or next 6500 kWh are billed at $9.45 per kWh;

Next 100 kWh used per month per kW of billing demand at $6.25 per kWh; and Over 200 kWh used per month per kW of billing demand at $5.75 per kWh.

Gas

Although there are no natural gas pipelines, gas appliances use bottled propane gas, which is readily available from private suppliers. Other types of petroleum distillate fuels are readily available.

Water

Local building codes provide for cisterns to collect rainwater for residential and commercial use. The Water and Power Authority produces desalinated water that is sold exclusively to the USVI Department of Public Works for distribution at a cost of about $14 per 1,000 gallons. The St. Croix public water supply, meanwhile, is supplemented (about 30 percent) by well fields.