A report in Diario Libre looks into the present electricity situation. The National Development Strategy – Electrical Pact should have been signed years ago between public and private stakeholders. The government has touted Punta Catalina as the solution to constant blackouts. The coal-fired thermoelectric central is in the final testing phase and is expected to be in full operation by next year. The report observes that while the Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE) reports losses are down to 27.3% compared to 28.4% in December 2019, operating costs continue to rise while the price of buying energy is stable.
Operating costs of the public electricity sector are up by 12.6% between January and August 2019, with US$264.8 million for the operation of the power distribution companies (Edes), some US$30 million more than the previous year. Two of the variables that increased the most were the Edes’ payrolls and payment to suppliers, up by 45%. The payroll for the electricity sector has increased by 20.2% in two years, with the number of employees rising from 2017 to date from 8,805 employees to 10, 579 in the CDEEE. The Edes, the Dominican Electricity Transmission Company (ETED) and the Dominican Hydroelectric Generation Company (EgeHid). The most significant increase was at EdeSur that went from 2,770 workers in January 2017 to 3,270 in September 2019, and EdeEste, where the payroll increased by 8.2%.
Diario Libre reports that the administrators of the Edes, earn between 21% and 34% more than the President of the Dominican Republic, who has a salary of RD$450,000 a month. The general managers of EdeNorte and EdeSur earn RD$575,000 a month and at EdeEste the general manager earns RD$695,000 a month.
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Diario Libre
29 October 2019