Power generators have resorted to shutting off their plants to pressure the Fernandez government into leaving mechanisms for the automatic payment of arrears, and in demand for payment. As a result, the power deficit peaked at 600 megawatts over the weekend, with demand at 1,500 megawatts. In the DR, the outages primarily affect lower middle class and small business as medium-sized businesses have installed alternate power sources. News reports say that yesterday, the Smith & Enron, Cayman Power II, Itabo I, Timbeque I and II, San Pedro Turbogas, Falconbridge, Itabo IA and Los Minas VI power plants were out of service. President Leonel Fernandez said that the blackouts are the result of the deteriorating generating plants, that his government inherited. He said that if the state electricity utility (CDE) had not been privatized, the problems would be even worse. Most of the private power plants are out of service for arrears in payment by the government. Private generators control about 50% of the supply, and are demanding the government make a RD$300 million payment on a claimed debt of US$100 million. Generators’ spokesman Rafael Zapata said that the power plants have been shut off because the companies lack money to pay for fuel due to government arrears.
