The Listin Diario reports that the government and the power companies have reached an agreement that would reduce the cost of power by two cents per kilowatt/hour. This should result in 20% savings in consumer power bills, say news reports. Also, the government subsidy of RD$4,000 million a year will be eliminated. President Hipolito Mejia received details of the agreement during the inauguration of the Barahona plant operated by Ege Haina in the southwestern province. The new 45 megawatt power plant will use charcoal as fuel. Superintendent of Electricity, Jose Ovalles Tejada announced in Barahona that on 18 August, Ege Haina will dock the largest power barge in the world in San Pedro de Macoris. The barge will generate 148,600 kilowatts. In Barahona, the electrical authorities also announced that Cogentrix will soon begin generating the first 100 megawatts of its 300 megawatt capacity at the power plant it is installing in San Pedro de Macoris.
