The administrator of the CDEEE (the governmental corporation that oversees the distribution of power in two thirds of the country, transmission lines and hydroelectric power generation) asked citizens to demonstrate their utmost capacity for patience. He was referring to the return of the lengthy blackouts, some lasting up to 20 consecutive hours. As reported in El Caribe, the power supply deficit stood at 50% yesterday. Radhames Segura said he could not give a timetable for the solution of the power service crisis. He stated: “The power system has collapsed and the country is practically without money.”
Segura confirms that the blackouts are due to financial reasons. El Caribe reports that meetings were held to implement a plan that would increase collections, but government officials have admitted there is a catch-22 situation, given that consumers are reluctant to pay for service while the long hours of blackouts continue. A big downside for consumers is the fact that the meters do not reflect the power outages in their readings.