What is the deal with the electricity in the Dominican Republic, specifically in Santiago? I just got back from a trip to Santiago and while I was there the electricity was cut every single day for hours on end. Why does this happen?
Logic would tell you that they should only turn off only the non-paying consumers. Logic has no role in the DR.
If only it were that simple.I would assume the paying and non paying customers are on the same lines,so shutting power to one household and not another would be difficult.
The whole system needs to be overhauled and that won't happen in our lifetime.
hifiman
Not really, in most countries you can be arrested and prosecuted if you are found with an illegal hookup or reconnecting after being disconnected. They are simply afraid of enforcing this against the masses in the barrios.If only it were that simple.I would assume the paying and non paying customers are on the same lines,so shutting power to one household and not another would be difficult.
The whole system needs to be overhauled and that won't happen in our lifetime.
hifiman
Not really, in most countries you can be arrested and prosecuted if you are found with an illegal hookup or reconnecting after being disconnected. They are simply afraid of enforcing this against the masses in the barrios.
Yes but a lot of these hookups are not metered,so they would have to go to every individual household to see if they have a legal hookup or not.
hifiman
The country has no reason to have such bad electricity.
It's has a well developed economy that produces a lot of $$$ and has received no end of handouts, loans etc over the years.
The DR rates 173rd on the United Nations human development index.
That's pretty pathetic when you consider the resources and potential of this country.
Why is it so bad? Dominicans, sad but true.
The main reasons are successive Dominican polatitions bleeding the country for every penny they can personally gain rather than working in the interests on their country and people. Combined with the sad fact that the majority of Dominicans are totally apathetic to the electricity and corruption situations.
The bad news...
The situation is not going to change anytime soon, the powers that be do not have the will or desire to change the status que. Regardless of the massive negative effect on productivity and on peoples daily lives.
Look no further than the Metro. We have kids doing homework under candle light, while the government elites poor billions into the Metro. I wonder why?
Surely they have nothing to gain by having a Metro? They all drive round in chauffeur driven Lexus Jeepetas. I think we all know the answer to that question.
The DR will never be globally competitive and many of the current administrations dreams and ideas for the DR will remain just that, dreams, especially while we have an unstable electricity grid with some of the highest cost per kWh's in the world.
Electricity is one the worlds most basic utilities and without a stable source, you are just another wanna be or 3rd world country.
Yeah, I have had a bad week, we are constantly getting 6-7hr black outs.
We are in a middle class sector that pays it's bills and subsidizes the 55% of people that don't. Saying that, many have no way of paying, they have no choice but to steal, how pathetic is that?
Yeah, I have had a bad week, we are constantly getting 6-7hr black outs.
We are in a middle class sector that pays it's bills and subsidizes the 55% of people that don't. Saying that, many have no way of paying, they have no choice but to steal, how pathetic is that?
The problem is, many poor folks steal electricity as they have no other choice. They don't have a meter, no way of paying and no cables, infrastructure etc etc.
!
there are entire barrios that do not contain a single meter. The lines were put in years ago, and have never been metered, this does not really qualify as stealing I don't think(bad management yes). If you ran the lines to me and provided the current, and do not provide a meter is that stealing? Am I supposed to buy a meter, and install myself , then tell the company that I now have a meter come read it please. GET REAL
I don't know if the percentage of stolen electric in the DR is much higher then anywhere else, but Iam sure the same goes on in barrios and favelas of other Latin nations. This is just to say that this isn't a unique problem that cannot be solved. My guess is that on top of the mentioned problems the whole "alternative mafia" (read inverters, batteries, generators) is also sponsoring some jepetas to the key figures.