Economist Andres Dauhajre says that it is unfair for the government to authorize an increase in power bills since Dominican consumers are already paying the highest rates in Latin America. He said the government should instead focus on renegotiating the contracts signed with power generators that he says are charging abusive rates. He urged that whoever the government appoints to do the negotiating not have any ties to any of these companies. Hoy newspaper editorializes today that President Mejia won many votes with his campaign promise to revise the electricity privatization contracts, a promise he has not kept. The newspaper comments on reports that the government will increase power bills 18-40%, in order to be able to reduce the subsidy on power consumption. The paper says the decision will penalize the middle class and businesses because it applies to those that consume more than 725 kilowatts a month. "What nobody is talking about is the kilowatt-hour cost, the most expensive in the Western Hemisphere and one of the most expensive in the world," highlights the newspaper. It emphasizes that to make matters worse, the kilowatt-hour cost increases with consumption. President of the Senate Ramon Alburquerque says the General Electricity Bill once it becomes law would enable the government to review the contracts signed within the first 90 days of the new law going into effect.
