NewsWhore
11-18-2008, 03:00 PM
Blackouts have declined this week as the government begins to pay up on arrears with distributors, but Listin Diario highlights that excessive employment is partly responsible for the financial difficulties that have resulted in long hours of blackouts. While blackouts have increased in recent years, the government has looked the other way as the payroll of the State Run Electric Companies (CDEEE) and the state-run power distributors have ballooned.
Listin Diario goes on to write that these increases in payroll occurred despite the fact that the power distribution companies subcontract most of their services to private companies.
A report by the CDEEE indicates the monthly payroll for the fully government-owned power distributors EdeNorte and EdeSur in August 2004 was of 3,228 but by September 2008 this had increased to 4,214 of which 2,274 jobs are at EdeNorte and 1,920 are at EdeSur. Over the four year period, 896 new jobs ( 27.7% more) were created, despite there not being an increase in generation. This meant RD$92.27 million a month more in wages, bringing the two distributors' total payroll to RD$137.56 million in September 2008, up from RD$45.3 million a month four years ago. EdeEste's September 2008 payroll was 1,286 employees, or RD$38.27 million. EdeEste has about a third of the billing. The government owns 50% of EdeEste.
While tropical storms in recent years damaged power generators at hydroelectric plants that are under the CDEEE holding, the increases in payroll spending have not been curtailed at these. The Listin Diario makes the point that the hydroelectric power generators that are out of service (about 100 MW) mean US$40 million less in power receipts for the government. The Listin reports that the hydroelectric generators are unlikely to be repaired because the government has requested permission from the World Bank, which was lending the resources, to use the funds to pay arrears to power distributors for electricity receipts.
Meanwhile, the CDEEE holding reported an increase to RD$230.15 million monthly payroll by September 2008, up from RD$39.25 million a month in 2004. Four years ago, 2,574 were employed in the CDEEE holding, but by September 2008, 3,928 persons were on payroll, or up 1,354 persons, equal to 52.6%, despite the decline in generation operations.
The newspaper reports on the high-end wages paid to CDEEE and transmission and hydroelectric companies board members, which total RD$300,000 a month plus representation expenses. The CDEEE and the transmission and hydroelectric companies have seven-member boards with executives who reap monthly wages of RD$150,000 to RD$200,000 plus a company vehicle.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)
Listin Diario goes on to write that these increases in payroll occurred despite the fact that the power distribution companies subcontract most of their services to private companies.
A report by the CDEEE indicates the monthly payroll for the fully government-owned power distributors EdeNorte and EdeSur in August 2004 was of 3,228 but by September 2008 this had increased to 4,214 of which 2,274 jobs are at EdeNorte and 1,920 are at EdeSur. Over the four year period, 896 new jobs ( 27.7% more) were created, despite there not being an increase in generation. This meant RD$92.27 million a month more in wages, bringing the two distributors' total payroll to RD$137.56 million in September 2008, up from RD$45.3 million a month four years ago. EdeEste's September 2008 payroll was 1,286 employees, or RD$38.27 million. EdeEste has about a third of the billing. The government owns 50% of EdeEste.
While tropical storms in recent years damaged power generators at hydroelectric plants that are under the CDEEE holding, the increases in payroll spending have not been curtailed at these. The Listin Diario makes the point that the hydroelectric power generators that are out of service (about 100 MW) mean US$40 million less in power receipts for the government. The Listin reports that the hydroelectric generators are unlikely to be repaired because the government has requested permission from the World Bank, which was lending the resources, to use the funds to pay arrears to power distributors for electricity receipts.
Meanwhile, the CDEEE holding reported an increase to RD$230.15 million monthly payroll by September 2008, up from RD$39.25 million a month in 2004. Four years ago, 2,574 were employed in the CDEEE holding, but by September 2008, 3,928 persons were on payroll, or up 1,354 persons, equal to 52.6%, despite the decline in generation operations.
The newspaper reports on the high-end wages paid to CDEEE and transmission and hydroelectric companies board members, which total RD$300,000 a month plus representation expenses. The CDEEE and the transmission and hydroelectric companies have seven-member boards with executives who reap monthly wages of RD$150,000 to RD$200,000 plus a company vehicle.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)