Prepare Meals in Advance, Limit AC Use: WAPA Announces New Campaign to Ease Strain on Power Grid

As excessive heat and Saharan dust push temperatures above 108°F, WAPA calls for community participation in conserving energy to prevent more frequent power outages

Amid an ongoing heatwave impacting the U.S. Virgin Islands, the V.I. Water and Power Authority has launched a "Power Conservation Campaign" aimed at reducing the strain on the territory's power grid. WAPA's call to action comes as the National Weather Service in San Juan issued an Excessive Heat Warning on Monday for St. Croix, San Juan, and parts of Puerto Rico, with heat indices exceed 108 degrees. The situation is exacerbated by Saharan dust, which has further elevated daytime temperatures while preventing the usual overnight cooling.

WAPA's appeal for conservation follows its ongoing struggles to maintain consistent power to its customers, with frequent power outages affecting daily life in the territory. The high cost of electricity in the U.S. Virgin Islands— the highest in the United States—has significantly impacted the local economy, with many shuttered businesses citing unsustainable energy costs as a main factor for their closure.