The general manager of the Corporación Dominicana de Electricidad, Radhamés Segura explained that the privatization of the collections aspect of the CDE will come first. He expects private companies to be in charge of this aspect within three months time. He explained that the CDE’s top priority now is to increase its collections. If we do not collect for the electricity served, there will not be funds to pay for the fuel and then we will be back in the days of long blackouts, he explained. He said that the government has a commitment to be able to provide electricity to users 24 hours a day. The administrator and the new board of the CDE have clashed with the Commission for the Reform of State Enterprises over the issue of the CDE purchasing and installing power plants. The two entities will meet today at the National Palace to discuss their differences. The CDE favors the installation by the government of small power plants that would resolve the electricity deficit. The Comisión de Reforma de la Empresa Pública seeks to go ahead with the privatization process and says that the purchase by the CDE of the power plants is a short term solution and will delay the long term solution. They feel the installation of private plants should be done by the private sector. Segura advocates that the success of the privatization efforts will depend on ensuring first that Dominicans are paying for the electricity consumed. Today 50% of Dominicans do not pay for the service. The CDE recently signed an agreement with the National Police and the District Attorney to start indicting those with fraudulent electricity connections. The CDE also recently signed an agreement with the Banco Agrícola to use the later’s offices around the country as collection booths.
