NewsWhore
10-09-2009, 03:00 PM
The Letter of Intent that the government sent the International Monetary Fund (IMF) sets out "tariff adjustments" and the application of a more flexible rate system to cover the costs of generation and distribution, but business sector leaders are warning that they would not accept any more rates increases without improvements in the service.
State-owned Electricity Companies (CDEEE) vice-president Celso Marranzini said that the IMF agreement does not refer to increasing rates, but rather the flexibility of rates, while making it clear that he does not have to talk about this issue since it is not part of his job.
The president of the National Organization of Commercial Enterprises (ONEC), Pedro Perez, and the president of the Dominican Traders Federation (FDC), Ivan de Jesus Garcia, both came out against any further electricity rate increases or readjustments.
Perez said that a readjustment would be counterproductive at the present time if they do no give any indication of an improvement in the electricity supply, but he hopes that the service improves with the work being done by Marranzini.
Garcia said that business is below the break-even point now due to the expenses produced by the electricity rates, which he said made up 15% to 20% of commercial operating expenses.
He pointed out that the private sector felt cheated by the electricity distributors because a business that paid RD$30,000 just 60 days ago is now paying RD$60,000 per month, and as a result the business sector is deeply worried by the situation.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#7)
State-owned Electricity Companies (CDEEE) vice-president Celso Marranzini said that the IMF agreement does not refer to increasing rates, but rather the flexibility of rates, while making it clear that he does not have to talk about this issue since it is not part of his job.
The president of the National Organization of Commercial Enterprises (ONEC), Pedro Perez, and the president of the Dominican Traders Federation (FDC), Ivan de Jesus Garcia, both came out against any further electricity rate increases or readjustments.
Perez said that a readjustment would be counterproductive at the present time if they do no give any indication of an improvement in the electricity supply, but he hopes that the service improves with the work being done by Marranzini.
Garcia said that business is below the break-even point now due to the expenses produced by the electricity rates, which he said made up 15% to 20% of commercial operating expenses.
He pointed out that the private sector felt cheated by the electricity distributors because a business that paid RD$30,000 just 60 days ago is now paying RD$60,000 per month, and as a result the business sector is deeply worried by the situation.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#7)