The government is spending US$30 million each month to shore up the electricity supply for most of the country. In order to better the energy situation for the DR in 2005, El Caribe newspaper is betting on renewed pressures to collect on the electric bills. This will mean new cuts in power service and perhaps higher bills. According to Presidential Technical Minister Temitocles Montas, “There is not enough money to supply 24-hour energy to the population.” Montas added that electric bills will increase by 30% next year. The El Caribe reminded its readers that last Tuesday the President warned the Dominican public that “2005 will be a difficult year with regards to energy,” blaming a large part of the problem on the US$600-million financial deficit. The monthly “helping hand” that the government is giving to the power companies is aimed at counterbalancing the US$35-million shortfall in cash flow that the energy distributors face every month. RD$20 million goes to the IPPs (Independent Power Producers), US$7 million to Ede-Norte and Ede-Sur and US$3 million to Ede-Este.