The Comisi?n de Reforma de la Empresa P?blica, the Dominican government commission in charge of privatizing public enterprises, said that of 43 companies that participated in the process to capitalize the Dominican Electricity Corporation (CDE) three distribution and sales companies, and two generation companies, 19 qualified to participate in the final bid. The pre-selected companies are:Electricit? de France, Enron Caribe, Gener, S.A., Amoco Power Development Co., Ltd., Iberdrola, Uni?n Fenosa, Coastal Power Dominicana Generation, Ltd. Also Empresas Emel/PP Y L Global, Endesa Internacional, Constellation Power International Investments, Southern Energy, Inc., AES Distribuci?n Dominicana, Tractebel, S.A., ABB Energy Ventures, Corporaci?n EDC, SACA, Consorcio IES-Luz y Fuerza, Seaboard Corporation, Houston Technologies and Consorcio Sudamericano. The bid will take place on Thursday, 15 April. The companies must bid a minimum of US$53.million for 50% of the shares of Distribuidora Norte (Cibao provinces. 306,206 clients and 150,000 users that do not pay for the service); US$129.2 million for Distribuci?n El?ctrica Sur (Av. M?ximo G?mez of Santo Domingo to the most southern province of the DR. 250,561 clients and 160,000 users that do not pay for the service) and US$125.3 million for Comercializaci?n Este (Av. Maximo Gomez in Santo Domingo and all eastern provinces. 258,554 clients and 180,000 users get free service.) The bid for the generation contracts is expected to take place in May. The minimums are US$128.1 million for Itabo and US$163.6 million for Haina. The areas of transmission and hydroelectric energy generation will remain totally owned by the state.
