Before the end of the year, the Executive Branch must add US$100 million to the US$350 million subsidy it had established to keep the national energy system working. Diario Libre reports that this was disclosed by the general manager of the Dominican State-owned Electric Companies (CDEEE), Radhames Segura, who stated that the subsidy will be no less than US$450 million. This increase is due to the high prices of fuel on the international market, the need to generate more energy because of the excessive summer heat, and the non-compliance of electric distribution companies with loss reduction plans. Segura said that as of 31 August the government had disbursed US$255 million to the electric sector. An additional US$55 million was disbursed last Wednesday, bringing the total to date to US$310 million. Despite the high subsidy it receives, Segura believes that there will be an improvement in service in 2006.