The government power utility head in the Dominican Republic, Celso Marranzini is encouraging businesses irregularly connected to the government power grid to go legit. The deal offered to them is a grace period when these can regularize their connections without facing penalties, and be relieved of having to pay the customary bond fee and the initial electricity bill.
The Unified Council of Electricity Distribution Companies (CUED) president, Celso Marranzini, announced a six-month amnesty for businesses illegally connected to the electrical grid.
Speaking at the weekly Corripio Media Group luncheon, Marranzini explained that the initiative aims to curtail significant economic losses attributed to illegal connections, which are estimated at RD$800 million a year, El Dia reports. Corripio owns several media, including the Listin Diario, Hoy and El Dia newspapers.
“Over the next six months, residents and small businesses like pharmacies, convenience stores, and workshops that legalize their electrical connections will not have to pay the bond or their first bill. This is an opportunity to get right with the law and avoid future consequences,” Marranzini stated.
The official warned that after the amnesty period, strict enforcement measures will be implemented against non-compliant businesses. He advised those who choose not to legalize their connections to disconnect altogether, as the consequences will be severe.
“We will publish the names of those found with illegal connections every Monday in the newspapers, regardless of whether they are small, medium, or large businesses, with or without a name,” Marranzini emphasized.
Marranzini stressed the need to end the substantial financial losses plaguing electricity distribution companies. “This has to stop. We cannot continue to lose 800 to 900 million pesos every year. This practice must end,” he concluded.
A separate analysis of the distribution companies revealed a concerning overload of power transformers. Edenorte reported seven out of 72 transformers operating beyond capacity (9.72%), while Edesur had 25 out of 59 (42.37%). Edeeste exhibited the highest percentage, with 29 out of 65 transformers overloaded (44.62%). These figures highlight the strain on the electrical grid and underscore the importance of addressing illegal connections to alleviate the system’s burden.
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El Dia
23 January 2025