The Water and Power Authority says the Virgin Islands government owes it $30 million, or about three-quarters of WAPA's total outstanding water and electric bills, which amount to $41.2 million.
According to Terry Drake, chief financial officer for WAPA, as of the end of December the government's debt accounted for 78 percent of accounts receivable for the water system and 68 percent of accounts receivable for the electric system.
Raymond George, executive director of WAPA, said the government made a lump sum payment of $2 million last week. George has encouraged the government to keep up with current billings and chip away at the old debt, according to the Daily News.
George said the Housing, Parks and Recreation Department, which uses substantial amounts of power to light ballparks and recreation areas, had one of the highest delinquent accounts.