AES Distribuidora del Este has given 16 government institutions a Monday, 23 July deadline to pay their power bills. Reportedly, government departments owe RD$49.4 million to the power distributor. Karl Huber, president of the company, sent a letter urging the departments to avoid suspension of the service by making the payment by this coming Monday. Government institutions with three-month delays in their bills are the Ministry of Education, Santo Domingo Water Corporation (CAASD), Channel 4, Institute of Potable Water (INAPA), Customs Department, Tax Bureau (DGII), Weather Department, National Theater, Museum of Dominican Man, Dominican Port Authority, Bellas Artes, Modern Art Gallery, among others. Huber reminds the departments that Decree 400-01 issued on 20 March 2001 instructs the government departments to make payments directly for their consumption of power.
