The Corporación Dominicana de Electricidad, the state electricity utility, signed an agreement with the Police and the District Attorney to eliminate illegal connections to the CDE network and fraudulent practices that affect the income of the state utility. A special unit to enforce this agreement has been created. The agreement was signed by Rhadames Segura, administrator of the CDE; Lic. Francisco J. Domínguez, District Attorney, and Jose Anibal Sanz Jiminián, chief of the National Police. The government has committed to provide more electricity, but a priority is to step up collection efforts. If not, the government subsidy will have to be considerably increased. The CDE at present only collects 50% of the energy served. In poor areas, it is believed that indigents should receive the service for free. As a result of the illegal connections, several tragedies have occurred in these areas. The enforcement of this agreement will save lives.
