I just got back from spending some time very close to Luperon in El Castillo. Water and power issues will never change in DR is my best prediction. You must have a generator, inversol without question. IF you have those things you can live and not ever really notice the power issues when at home.
Other than that I expect it is very different. 5 yrs ago my in-laws bought and built in El Castillo (15-20 min from Luperon) for retirement and at the time it was really a 1 cow town. Now there are gringos of every denomination buying and building in the surrounding beach areas close to Luperon and they use Luperon as their "city" to change money, shop, buy gas ect.
The resorts were dead, I think one was also out of business and for sale. BUT it is also off-peak hurricane season.