AES Distribuidora del Este announced it will cut service tomorrow to 16 government departments that are in arrears with their payments. Manuel Lopez San Pablo, spokesman for the company, said that of 18 government departments, only the National Palace and the Chamber of Accounts are up to date on their power payments. AES had given the government until 15 July to pay up. The Listin Diario lists the departments in arrears and money owed (May and June bills): Santo Domingo Water Corporation (CAASD): RD$26.3 million Potable Waters & Sewage Institute (INAPA): RD$6.4 million Ministry of Education: RD$6.1 million Radio Television Dominicana: RD$1.2 million Ministry of Culture: RD$409,000 National Theater: RD$1.3 million Port Authority: RD$1.9 million Tax Bureau: RD$1.5 million AES also reported that the barrios Capotillo, Gualey, La Zurza, las Cañitas, La Cañada del Diablo, Villa Juana, Villas Agricolas, Espaillat and Simon Bolivar would suffer long power outages until 10 August because of maintenance and expansion of the substation that supplies power to those areas. A recent government decree prohibited power cuts for financial reasons, but authorized the companies to suspend service for maintenance and service purposes. Most of the inhabitants in these slum areas do not pay for the service.
