A subsidy for propane gas will forestall a price hike this week, according to President Hipolito Mejia, who also reaffirmed the need to continue spending RD$300 million a month to provide electricity to the various underprivileged neighborhoods of Santo Domingo and other cities. The new subsidy for propane will go into effect if the current escalating trend in petroleum prices continues. The President also warned that what happened to the Union Fenosa power distributors could also happen to the Cogentrix generating facility if they are not more receptive and cooperative. President Mejia told the press that his government had paid the Cogentrix generation facility the sum of US$42 million and that it was time for them to get back online with the 300 megawatts that they are able to produce. “They must generate or face the problem, like Union Fenosa did, regardless of what they are called or what is their nationality,” warned President Mejia.