Radhamés Segura, upon accepting his appointment as new administrator general of the Corporación Dominicana de Electricidad, the government electricity utility, said that there would be an increase in collections for service rendered. It is estimated that 50% of the Dominican population receive the service free. At present, there is more demand than supply, but if all goes well by the second half of the year, the supply will have met the demand. If the service is improved, the government subsidy to the population increases. Thus, the move to step up collections for the service rendered. The CDE estimates that when the new turbogas power units enter into operation, as part of emergency measures, the CDE will have to pay some RD$100 and RD$150 million more a month to purchase the fuel to operate the new plants. From here to June, the CDE expects 270 megawatts to go on line in new power plants. Hoy newspaper also revealed that not only do individual consumers not pay for electricity consumed, but that the government itself is at fault. Hoy newspaper said that CDE billed the government institutions 30.4% less in December 1997 in comparison to November 1996. The newspaper said that the CDE made up the difference by increasing residential billings.
