The Superintendent of Electricity (SIE), Francisco Mendez, promised that the electric rates will be frozen during 2005, beginning in January, as the EDE distributors have overcome their 30% cash flow deficit by issuing the 9.4% increments that were applied during October and November of this year. The official said that another factor that will influence the price of electricity is the price of the US dollar on the exchange market. The superintendent said that as long as the exchange rate and oil prices remain stable, there would be no reason to change the tariff paid for electricity. Mendez did leave the door open just a bit, saying that there might be “slight adjustments if there is a need to do so, in accordance with the IMF.”