The World Bank’s International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has approved a US$120 million loan to be used to modernize the power distribution grid and reduce power losses while increasing revenue collections in circuits rehabilitated under the project. The loan is for 20 years with a four-year grace period.
The project seeks to help improve the financial performance of the three state-owned electricity distribution companies (EDEs) while reducing “programmed” blackouts in rehabilitated circuits which currently serve around one million people, 41% of them low-income population.
Specifically, the Distribution Grid Modernization and Loss Reduction project will:
Rehabilitate 1,003 km of distribution networks and upgrade electrical interconnection of more than 120,000 customers in priority areas;
Reduce commercial losses by installing more than 138,000 remote meters and converting over 73,000 illegal users into regular clients;
Increase the number of hours of electricity supply to 24h service to all clients in all intervened circuits.
As reported by the World Bank, the project will be implemented by the state public utility corporation, the CDEEE and will benefit over one million Dominicans mainly located in the districts of Santo Domingo, San Cristobal, Santiago, La Vega, Puerto Plata, and San Francisco de Macoris.
http://www.wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/LCR/2015/10/22/090224b0831619ce/1_0/Rendered/PDF/Project0Inform0on0Project000P147277.pdf
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/loans-credits/2015/12/15/dominican-republic-distribution-grid-modernization-loss-reduction-project