Executives of the World Bank and the Interamerican Development Bank have estimated that the Corporación Dominicana de Electricidad (CDE) will need approximately three years to achieve stable electricity production, free of distribution breakdowns and with sufficient generation. The CDE is in dire need of two power stations with a generation capacity of 250 megawatts each. The installation of the plants would take at least 36 months. Both banks have set aside funds for this purpose, under the supervision of the private sector. The project must wait, however, for the approval of the General Electricity Bill, which has been in Congress for three years. Until then, the CDE will continue struggling with damaged and obsolete power plants and distribution lines, as well as the problem of illegal connections which cost the state-owned electricity company millions of pesos monthly.
In recent weeks, lengthy power cuts have returned to the D.R., with the CDE claiming that lack of payment by consumers and the poor condition of the distribution lines are the cause.