NewsWhore
09-12-2006, 02:30 PM
Yesterday's Listin Diario devoted its editorial column to the DR's electricity problem, which has affected the quality of life of two generations of Dominicans with no solution in sight. The editorial says that President Fernandez's solution is to make the theft of electricity a criminal act. It says that the conclusion reached at last weekend's workshop in Juan Dolio appeared to be that what has to be clarified is the process of buying and selling electricity.
The editorial points out, however, that the price per kilowatt, and the condition of the meters and unfulfilled aspects of the Electricity Law such as that which obliges the power suppliers to compensate with three hours of electricity for each hour of blackout should also be clarified.
It points out that when the CDE (Corporacion Dominicana de Electricidad) was privatized, the stated aim was that the government would stop having to subsidize the distribution of power by 2003. But almost a decade after privatization, the Listin Diario columnist writes that the problem is as serious as ever, and if anything, it is worse. "The cost of electricity is now more oppressive for consumers, the government's debt with electricity suppliers appears unpayable, the subsidy is growing uncontrollably, while the blackouts are as frequent and as long as ever. It is impossible to continue postponing and patching up the problem," concludes the editorial.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#4)
The editorial points out, however, that the price per kilowatt, and the condition of the meters and unfulfilled aspects of the Electricity Law such as that which obliges the power suppliers to compensate with three hours of electricity for each hour of blackout should also be clarified.
It points out that when the CDE (Corporacion Dominicana de Electricidad) was privatized, the stated aim was that the government would stop having to subsidize the distribution of power by 2003. But almost a decade after privatization, the Listin Diario columnist writes that the problem is as serious as ever, and if anything, it is worse. "The cost of electricity is now more oppressive for consumers, the government's debt with electricity suppliers appears unpayable, the subsidy is growing uncontrollably, while the blackouts are as frequent and as long as ever. It is impossible to continue postponing and patching up the problem," concludes the editorial.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#4)