President Leonel Fernandez defended his government’s program to resolve the energy crisis. In written declarations to the press, President Fernández pointed out that never before had an administration taken such concrete steps to solve the power problems that affect the DR. He highlighted that the new administration that begins 16 August 2000 will reap the benefits of these efforts. He said his government moved to solve the problems with the best interest of the nation foremost, confronting the multiple interested parties. He said the groundwork is in place for the installation of 1,600 megawatts in the next four years, without the state having to invest a cent. The National Palace release attributed the present power outages to the fragility of the generation system. It mentions the burden on the system of "the swindle against the state" made in the government that preceded him (Balaguer administration) with the signing of onerous contracts with private generators. Separately, the general administrator of the CDE, Radhamés Segura said that the Smith-Enron plant in Puerto Plata is the system’s main headache. He said that the plant has only been able to generate half of its 185 megawatts capacity in 2000. Segura said the installation of that plant was a big swindle. He said that during the Balaguer administration, the plant was promoted as a modern facility, with the best technicians. Seeking to not compete with the plant, the state did not make investments in power facilities in the North. Given the collapse of the generation capacity of the plant, the northern region of the country has suffered. Furthermore, Marcos Cochón, Superintendent of Electricity, denounced that the new private power distribution companies have not been billing their customers, letting bills accumulate, which is affecting customers’ finances. He said these bills come with increases that are unjustified at a time when there have been long blackouts. On the bright side, CDE administrator Segura forecast that service should be significantly better in July with the entrance of 400 megawatts to the system. He said that the new authorities will only have to confront 10% of the problems that faced the Fernández administration in 1996. Relief from long power outages is already being felt.
