True that, in here the bill jumped from RD$3,500 to RD$8,000 from one month to another, and I believe is the inverter charging that takes out most of the power.
- Thread starter MrMike
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National blackout?
True that, in here the bill jumped from RD$3,500 to RD$8,000 from one month to another, and I believe is the inverter charging that takes out most of the power.
GringoCArlos
Im so glad you gave me this information.. Cus I was arranging for a big company to come invest in the Dominican Rebpublic in Zona Franca. They were considering MExico and Dominican Rep..... I guess we know the smart choice now.. I could only imagine what would happen to me if i told them to come to DR instead of Mexico...what is the salary over there? Thanks
It scares me to think of how many billions the DR has lost in investment due to the very poor state of the electricity sector.
It must feel very empowering to watch the Metro roll by as your kid is trying to do their homework under candle light.
I am in central MX, which has a local unemployment rate of about 5%. Plants can run 24 hours without needing a planta. Production workers salaries would be equal to the upper end of the DR scale (average total labor cost per worker (including all of the government's socialist benefits -similar to the DR) would be about RD$12k-16k/month). Lots of local tech schools and universities cranking out educated workers. That seems to be the key here - reliable electricity and good education systems.
Plant productivity is much higher because there is always cheap electricity - here mostly from hydro sources. Transportation to US markets is 4 to 10 days by truck on the MX superhighway through Laredo, TX. Containers also go through 3 ports to Europe and Asia markets. So far I have failed in convincing them to do transhipments through Port Caucedo to Europe instead of through Miami or New York.
Plant productivity is much higher because there is always cheap electricity - here mostly from hydro sources. Transportation to US markets is 4 to 10 days by truck on the MX superhighway through Laredo, TX. Containers also go through 3 ports to Europe and Asia markets. So far I have failed in convincing them to do transhipments through Port Caucedo to Europe instead of through Miami or New York.
Zona Franca
I know that there is a Puerto Rican company that has been working with several of the Zona Francas to get them converted to solar power. The company converts them to solar energy, using equipment using their own equipment, based on a purchase lease plan which is based on the company's current consumption. The Zona company is guaranteed that the rate will not exceed the current rate that they are paying for electricity and that after a set number of years they will own the solar equipment. If you are interested, you can PM me and I can put you in touch with the guys from Puerto Rico who are doing the work.
I know that there is a Puerto Rican company that has been working with several of the Zona Francas to get them converted to solar power. The company converts them to solar energy, using equipment using their own equipment, based on a purchase lease plan which is based on the company's current consumption. The Zona company is guaranteed that the rate will not exceed the current rate that they are paying for electricity and that after a set number of years they will own the solar equipment. If you are interested, you can PM me and I can put you in touch with the guys from Puerto Rico who are doing the work.
I read these stories this morning in the paper, and after discussions yesterday said they will pay generators $40m this month.
The question I have, how much do they owe them for this months consumption...? and is that in addition to the $40m, or is this just more games........
Methinks the latter....
I've spent a lot of time in San Luis Potosi and they are definitely doing an excellent job of attracting businesses down there with their educated work force, reliable electricity (remember Mexico has a lot of oil), proximity to The US, etc...on the downside they are boring as hell and the women are butt ugly...so I think I'll make do with my inverter :cheeky:
That's one thing that should make most Dominicans think for a while (especially the electricity thieves), but knowing how the typical Dominican mind works, that will not happen.
There is a reason why the Metro was given its own electricity grid; easier to keep the lights on when no one taps in for a free ride (no pun).
It shows it can be resolved....... if everyone connected pay their bills.
But, most Dominicans will not see it that way. They will see it as a slap in the face to see the Metro running while they are in a blackout, because the Dominican mind is "programed" to see the worst in situations where collective action is needed. That keeps people frozen and the problem persists.
Hence the blame game. Too bad that won't solve it.
If everyone pays, that's the end of the blackouts, everyone's bills goes down, it becomes easier to pay, everyone pays, no more blackouts, so on and so forth.
Once that cycle gets going, its done.
-NALs
We know the reason, but the solution is NOT as utopic as you state, "everyone needs to pay..."
The problem is Nals, the Government has no game plan, they just stumble from one issue to another, knowing that throwing money at it will be a short term fix and keep the people, primarily the poor from protesting.
So how do they raise the money to pay for the short term fixes?
Screw the middle class and jack up their light bills to crazy levels.
They know they will pay and not riot, they can always rely on the subservient Dominican middle class to put up and shut up.
This BS has been going on for years, it's the same old blah, blah, blah from the same old voices.
Until those that can make a difference, actual sit down and formulate a long term plan to solve this, then nothing will change. Until the people see that in actions, not just words, then nothing will change.
But as we all know....
It's not in their interest to do the right thing. That would be too easy and at the same time tilt the balance of influence, power etc. Lets keep them down, lets keep them subservient and lets keep our graft etc. Look no further than Leonels support of Radhames Segura (CDEEE). Forget about getting everyone to pay, how about we remove those 40+ family members and BS expenses from the CDEEE.
Bring in the Angolans, Mexicans, Americans, whoever, let them sort out the mess!
As its obviously apparent, the locals do not have the will and are incapable.
The problem is a lot more basic than that.
Economics is the study of unlimited demand chasing scarce resources.
The basic problem is Dominicans want a First World life on 1/7 of the per capita GDP of the First World. There just isn't enough money, and no gubmint can just ~create~ that money. Not even PICHARDO can do it.
Electricity doesn't just happen. It has to be paid for. And IF it is paid for...remember, the gubmint owes electric producers $US700,000,000 YTD...then some other need will go unmet.
I agree it's easy to say it's the Keystone Gubmint's fault. But they just do NOT have the resources to be all things to all people all the time. To expect otherwise will just raise your blood pressure.
50% of the Metro bill could wipe that out. But that would be considered a waste of money. I mean, that's a lot of new shiny Land Cruisers and donations to your favorite
"I started my own church" Marcos Lara Lorenzo...
It's not just money, it's a complete lack of any sort of plan or forward thinking.
"I started my own church" Marcos Lara Lorenzo...
It's not just money, it's a complete lack of any sort of plan or forward thinking.
No argument from me.
I just mention the most basic, fundamental problem.
Forward thinkers here are in short supply. I'm just not sure what the demand is...
Blackouts are good.
Electricity is one of the only things the general populace
understands and revolt against when not available. They see
it as a right. And if they really get ****ed off, they will revolt.
And revolution, and I hate to say this, but, seems to be the only
way all the bias, the b.s., the hatred, the class system, the
corruption, the nepotism, the senselessness, could ever change.
I am not a socialist in practice. Democracy is a wonderful thing.
But this country has very few real democratic principals, institutions
to follow them, nor the will or fortitude to enforce. The DR is a wonderful
place for all the reasons we all know; but it is also a quagmire of injustice,
of hate, of stupidity, of sadness and despair. I love it here and I hate it here.
At my age, I have little time to deal with the latter.
Maybe some of you younger bucks can stay and fight.
I, for one, see brighter horizons.
There are many alternatives.
I'll probably regret I wrote this tomorrow,
but, tomorrow is another day.
Electricity is one of the only things the general populace
understands and revolt against when not available. They see
it as a right. And if they really get ****ed off, they will revolt.
And revolution, and I hate to say this, but, seems to be the only
way all the bias, the b.s., the hatred, the class system, the
corruption, the nepotism, the senselessness, could ever change.
I am not a socialist in practice. Democracy is a wonderful thing.
But this country has very few real democratic principals, institutions
to follow them, nor the will or fortitude to enforce. The DR is a wonderful
place for all the reasons we all know; but it is also a quagmire of injustice,
of hate, of stupidity, of sadness and despair. I love it here and I hate it here.
At my age, I have little time to deal with the latter.
Maybe some of you younger bucks can stay and fight.
I, for one, see brighter horizons.
There are many alternatives.
I'll probably regret I wrote this tomorrow,
but, tomorrow is another day.
Don't worry, this country never learns or remembers from one day to the next anyway!
Couple more days and no one will even remember who "Radhames Segura" is anymore.
BTW, will someone "PLEASE" call EdeNorte for me,
... they must have missed the order from Leonel to "Turn the Electric back on".
We are learning to count backwards in our 24/7 area.
24/7
23/7
22/7
21/7
20/7
19/7
.... and counting.
SantiagoDR
I survived the National Blackout ? 2009
When was the last time the "Gubmint" was short of money to make the politicians payroll?
When was the last time the politicians decided, for the good of the country, they would NOT give themselves a pay raise? (...and not because of pressure)
What's the model year of the politician with the oldest car?
How many politicians do NOT own a luxury SUV?
Just curious! :chinese:
SantiagoDR
I survived the National Blackout ? 2009
I have been talking to lots of Dominicans from all sorts of classes and most of them are aware of the issues and most of them recognize they are putting up with lots of BS. They admit themselves that they complain but put up with the issues instead of rising up and demanding change. Hence, I wouldn't call it ignorance, I would call it lack of coordination.
Or. as I expressed ia a controversial thread a long time ago, lack of *political will*...