The Listín Diario reported that the board of the Corporación Dominicana de Electridad (CDE), the state electricity utility, has decided not to authorize contracting energy from new private suppliers. The board has recommended that the CDE wait until the governmental Commission for the Reform of Public Enterprises determine the policies and rules that will regulate the purchase of power from new private suppliers. The Listín commented that the major power plant Itabo I will be taken off line in September for maintenance works, as soon as a new Haina power plant goes on line, and that the contracting of services from private suppliers would fill the deficit. According to the press report, 16 international companies seek to sell power to the CDE.
