NewsWhore
04-24-2009, 03:00 PM
Listin Diario reports today that the CDEEE, the government entity that has the final say in the DR's power sector, has little to show for meeting the goals that were set in its 2006 recovery plan. At the time, the principal objective was to supply sufficient power, with the necessary quality and for a reasonable price. Jairon Severino reports that the arrears in payments to generators and the deficit are maintained, despite statements to the contrary by the CDEEE. "The only thing that the reports on the performance of the electricity sector show is an increase in the number of employees at the power distribution companies, the CDEEE, including the programs for rural and suburban electrification (UERS) and the Program for the Reduction of Blackouts (PRA)," writes the reporter.
The PRA was object of a scandal when TV journalist Nuria Piera revealed facts and figures on its bloated employment that led to the prompt removal of its director.
The newspaper also reports that two deputies work in the CDEEE in the area of communications, which is in violation of the ban on legislators holding two jobs, he reports.
Celso Marranzini, a former president of the National Business Council (CONEP) says that the CDEEE has a minor role in the electricity sector of coordinating contracts and distributing the funds received from the Ministry of Hacienda to cover the deficit in the sector, which totaled around US$1.08 billion last year. Despite this reality, its payroll is one of the largest in government.
"I think the CDEEE needs to be revised from top to bottom because there is no reason why to think that what happened in the PRA should not be happening in other places, when one sees that the structure of that institution alone, which could operate with 300 or 400 employees, has a staff of around 4,000," he said. He reports that in January alone, the CDEEE increased its spending by 65.32%. Despite a budgeted RD$209.94 million, it spent RD$345.43 million, or RD$135.49 million more. He complains that the CDEEE payroll alone has increased from 2,505 fixed employees in December 2008 to 2,757, or 252 more employees.
Marranzini says that Art. 138 of the General Law of Electricity establishes that the role of the CDEEE is to coordinate the electricity companies, executive programs in rural and suburban electrification, and manage power contracts with independent power providers (IPPs).
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#2)
The PRA was object of a scandal when TV journalist Nuria Piera revealed facts and figures on its bloated employment that led to the prompt removal of its director.
The newspaper also reports that two deputies work in the CDEEE in the area of communications, which is in violation of the ban on legislators holding two jobs, he reports.
Celso Marranzini, a former president of the National Business Council (CONEP) says that the CDEEE has a minor role in the electricity sector of coordinating contracts and distributing the funds received from the Ministry of Hacienda to cover the deficit in the sector, which totaled around US$1.08 billion last year. Despite this reality, its payroll is one of the largest in government.
"I think the CDEEE needs to be revised from top to bottom because there is no reason why to think that what happened in the PRA should not be happening in other places, when one sees that the structure of that institution alone, which could operate with 300 or 400 employees, has a staff of around 4,000," he said. He reports that in January alone, the CDEEE increased its spending by 65.32%. Despite a budgeted RD$209.94 million, it spent RD$345.43 million, or RD$135.49 million more. He complains that the CDEEE payroll alone has increased from 2,505 fixed employees in December 2008 to 2,757, or 252 more employees.
Marranzini says that Art. 138 of the General Law of Electricity establishes that the role of the CDEEE is to coordinate the electricity companies, executive programs in rural and suburban electrification, and manage power contracts with independent power providers (IPPs).
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#2)