Out of 400,000 electric consumers located in the "eastern region," comprising the eastern half of SD and the five easternmost provinces, just 275,000 are clients of the electric company that serves them. This finding was reported in a document titled "Report 1999-2000" issued by AES del Este, which is one of the trio of companies that now manage the nation’s electrical distribution service. AES del Este is engaged in what is described as "an intense operation" to reduce losses due to fraud. The company "sends brigades into the streets daily" to disconnect "more than 3,000 fraudulent users." AES del Este determined that some 32% of electric users in the eastern region were connected illegally. Over 100,000 new meters have been installed where none existed previously and the company believes that an additional 200,000 meters remain to be installed. New electronic meters have also been provided to major industrial clients. The report also documented the company’s expenditures to date, including DR$350 million (around US$2,187,000) to install 300 kilometers of new triplex lines, 1,125 new transformers, and 4,000 new electric posts, among others.
