NewsWhore
07-20-2007, 07:00 PM
Congress has postponed changes to the General Energy Law for another month. The International Monetary Fund had requested that electricity theft should be criminalized in order to reduce the hefty government electricity subsidy. The IMF has made its review of the stand by arrangement letter of intent conditional to the passing of the provisions for the criminalization of power theft. Treasury (Hacienda) Minister Vicente Bengoa says that the review has now been postponed until September, as the IMF will be taking vacation time in the summer.
The business sector has lobbied against the approval of the bill sent by the Executive Branch. They claim that the actual bill that was sent to Congress was padded with other changes that would set the country years back in energy sector reform. Among the changes disputed is one that would allocate roles back to the state power company (CDEEE) that are now the responsibility of the Superintendence of Energy. The business sector is also describing the penalties as discriminatory, as they should also be levied on those consuming under 1,000 kWh, and that these could be used for arbitrary abuse by the government. The business sector is against the change in the energy law that seeks to practically remove the category of non-regulated consumer for businesses. For many businesses, being able to access power through unregulated transmission lines has made the difference between being in business or not. The government has consistently favored the distributors, releasing them from responsibility for various items included in the General Electricity Law. As a result, consumers and businesses in the DR have to endure some of the highest power costs in the world. International consultants say that the root of the problem is a lack of government will to remove politics from the energy situation.
Diario Libre says that it is likely that the Executive Branch will send revised energy changes to Congress, in an effort to secure the law's timely approval.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#2)
The business sector has lobbied against the approval of the bill sent by the Executive Branch. They claim that the actual bill that was sent to Congress was padded with other changes that would set the country years back in energy sector reform. Among the changes disputed is one that would allocate roles back to the state power company (CDEEE) that are now the responsibility of the Superintendence of Energy. The business sector is also describing the penalties as discriminatory, as they should also be levied on those consuming under 1,000 kWh, and that these could be used for arbitrary abuse by the government. The business sector is against the change in the energy law that seeks to practically remove the category of non-regulated consumer for businesses. For many businesses, being able to access power through unregulated transmission lines has made the difference between being in business or not. The government has consistently favored the distributors, releasing them from responsibility for various items included in the General Electricity Law. As a result, consumers and businesses in the DR have to endure some of the highest power costs in the world. International consultants say that the root of the problem is a lack of government will to remove politics from the energy situation.
Diario Libre says that it is likely that the Executive Branch will send revised energy changes to Congress, in an effort to secure the law's timely approval.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#2)