According to a study carried out by the Organizacion Latinoamericana de Energia (OLADE), the average cost of power in the DR is twice as expensive as in Colombia, Honduras, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Mexico, the US, Haiti, Cuba, Chile or Argentina. As reported in El Caribe, the average cost of power, with taxes included, reaches industries at 14.15 US cents the kWh compared to an average 6.86 US cents in other countries, a difference of 125%. The study indicates that residential consumers pay 17.79 US cents the kWh, compared to 7.98 US cents kWh in other countries, or on average 175% more expensive. The commercial sector here is billed at 21.83 US cents kWh on average, compared to 9.99 US cents kWh in other countries.
Several local sectors have said that the high cost of power in the DR is the main obstacle limiting the development of industry and business here.