SANTO DOMINGO.- Dominican State-owned power companies (CDEEE) executive vice president Radhamés Segura yesterday visited the National Business Council (Conep) to defend his tenure and respond to their diagnosis, which showed the energy sector’s structural deficiencies have lasted for more than 20 years.
He blamed the industry’s current problems on external shocks cuased by the jump in the price of oil and scarcity of foods and said the Government has been applying a series measures to confront them.
He said actions are planned in the electricity distribution, power lines and generation areas, although his presentation before the Conep executive committee went a sumilar route to the one four years ago, when he began his tenure in the Administration about to conclude.
The official spoke of renegoting contracts, boosting generation with coal-fired plants, natural gas, wind energy, hydroelectrics and revamping the distributors, the same actions which according to Conep’s diagnosis presented last week, have been announced for years and most of which have yet to materialize.
The study also warns that for the last five years the industry has been financially unsound from the high subsidy which topped US$1.0 billion this year, the fear of collecting for energy, adjustment of the fuel prices and the electrical bill, the institutional weakness and the lack of a diversified generation.
Segura said president Leonel Fernandez instructed him to propose a consensus among all social sectors affected by the industry’s problem, which he said has been impacted by the price of petroleum.
Conep’s view
Conep president Lisandro Macarulla warned that while they can contribute to solve the problems, the application of public policies is the responsibility of those chosen to govern. “The business sector’ position is weighed in the document. We’re very concerned over the electric sector, one of the most important is the high level of subsidies and that it competes with other sectors where the State has to orient its resources, such as education.”
Written by: BLANCO, 10 Jul 2008 10:08 AM
From: Dominican Republic
which showed the energy sector’s structural deficiencies have lasted for more than 20 years....
try 25 and billions of pesos if not dollars to provide electricty to country now of 9 million people and whose elected officials and even private business owners and groups including individuals,do not see this as an issue. this electrical issue is a cash cow for a few and a disgrace to the image of the RD.
In 25 years the story has gone from issue tp problem to crisis to situation to whatever they call it now. i call it a big rip at 27 cents a KWH tdo the consumer. the highest in the world.
well at least we are number 1 in something
From: United States
at least Mr Segura remained true to national character and placed the blame on something besides himself and his department. the problem has lasted over 20 years, but he shamelessly seeks to put blame for the current situation on the cost of crude oil. you cannot win when you have types like these in charge of anything.
Written by: anthonyC, 10 Jul 2008 11:35 AM
From: United States
The problem can be found in the name
Dominican State-owned power companies.
State-owned explains it all.
Written by: BASTA, 10 Jul 2008 1:19 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Bull- all problems got worse with Fernandezzz.
From: Dominican Republic
"He blamed the industry’s current problems on external shocks cuased by the jump in the price of oil and scarcity of foods ...."
Huh??? How does the scarcity of foods effect an energy sector?????
Written by: Escott, 10 Jul 2008 4:26 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Sosua/Cabarete
If there wasn't money to be made here we would have 24/7 electric!
These crooks are just sucking from the gigantic tit for all its worth.
From: United States
yeah yeah yeah ......
Written by: sangwong 
, 10 Jul 2008 9:51 PM
From: United States
The energy problem has a lot to do with the type of lifetype we have come to expect in the Dominican Republic and elsewhere .. the "power hungry" lifestyle .. the Gringos on this forum are making it look like they don't have these kinds of problem in their country .. nothing could be farther from the truth .. their "power hungry" life style .. to the tune of 20 million barrels of oil per day .. is beginning to strain their electrical power system as well .. California has had rolling blackouts for years .. "brownouts" are getting more common everywhere during the summer .. on average it takes 10 years to build and get a new power plant online .. so energy conservation and alternative energy sources might be a more viable way to tackle this problem .. power companies should try harder to eliminate the theft of electricity in the DR .. fewer private cars and more public transportation.
Written by: anthonyC, 10 Jul 2008 11:06 PM
From: United States
No thanks Chopo.
Now get me more ice for my drink!
From: Canada
illigitimi non carborundum was meant for ...wing wang wong soon gone.....Resident Internet Leper
Written by: anthonyC, 11 Jul 2008 7:28 AM
From: United States
sangwong,
Unlike you I have a life. I have responsibilities and interests. I can't nor want to be here waiting for your silly replies.
F.Y.I.
The Dominican Republic does not have either an energy or a food crisis. There are plenty pf both. The problem is a political one.
From: United States
actually, anthonyc, if one component of the equation is defective, then the entire equation is. if there is a ton of available food, but it is not getting to the end user, there is a crisis. similarly, if there is surplus generating capacity, but the country is in darkness, there is a crisis. the fact that the crisis has its genesis in politices or economics does not mean we have no crisis.
Written by: anthonyC, 11 Jul 2008 12:33 PM
From: United States
It is not a crisis if it is self-inflicted.
From: United States
i will remember that observation for future reference, anthony. i guess that when a guy becomes a drug addict, and his life is in a state of meltdown, we cannot say he is in crisis because it was he who chosed to imbibe! holy jeezus!! what next?
Written by: anthonyC, 11 Jul 2008 12:56 PM
From: United States
"i will remember that observation for future reference, anthony. i guess that when a guy becomes a drug addict, and his life is in a state of meltdown, we cannot say he is in crisis because it was he who chosed to imbibe!"
Of course he isn't in a state of crisis. Maybe in his own mind he.
Crisis, when discusssing energy or food implies that the problems are due to external forces and not the fault of the Dominican Republic.
The energy and food problems in the DR are a product of the DR's own actions.
I do not support the Nanny State
From: United States
anthonyc, forgive me , but i am a guy who prefers to use words as they are defined in the dictionary. nowhere in the definition of ¨crisis¨is there any reference to the cause. a crisis is simply a critical, nature changing event, nothing more, nothing less. self inflicted is not an issue in that definition.
Written by: sangwong , 11 Jul 2008 6:51 PM
From: United States
TonyCleo .. in the DR .. the demand for electricity exceeds the supply of electricty to the point where the system must be shut down for periods of up to 8 hours .. creating a major inconvenience to the majority of the population .. including disruptions to business .. traffic lights do not work .. refrigerators are defrosted and food spoils .. it happens each and every day .. what do you call that? a birthday party? if you don't want to call it a crisis .. fine .. call it a something else .. call it "party time" .. but it is annoying as heck ..
Written by: anthonyC, 11 Jul 2008 8:54 PM
From: United States
"but it is annoying as heck .."
Of course it is annoying. It is also annoying to have the power controlled by the Government when it should be controlled by private companies and citizens.
It is annoying that people whine about problems yet stick the hand out to the Gov and say "Gimme."
Written by: anthonyC, 11 Jul 2008 10:32 PM
From: United States
"One more thing .. you will find yourself running from topic to topic .. trying to get away from me .. but I will find you .. no matter how man topics there are .. before you know it your knee jerk reaction and pachydermic ego will get the better of you .."
Funny little man.
I pop in here from time to time in between "evil" speculating and oppressing the masses.
Life is good.
From: United States
anthonyc, in which theology is it written that electricity should be controlled by private companies and citizens? is there some sort of guarantee that it will function optimally in private hands? if my understanding of the DR is correct, they have tried both private and public ownership, both with equally dismal results. ergo, it appears that the ownership model is not the problem here; it lies somewhere else.
Written by: anthonyC, 12 Jul 2008 11:30 AM
From: United States
"anthonyc, in which theology is it written that electricity should be controlled by private companies and citizens?
it is called Capitalism. Check it out. It works fine.
"is there some sort of guarantee that it will function optimally in private hands?"
It works wherever it is used.
"if my understanding of the DR is correct, they have tried both private and public ownership, both with equally dismal results. ergo, it appears that the ownership model is not the problem here; it lies somewhere else."
The DR has never had true private power companies. Their attempt was highly regulated and prevented the companies from collecting payments from a large segment of their clientel.
From: United States
anthonyc, it is becoming increasingly more painful to try and argue with you, because you appear to be rather limited. what in heck do you mean when you say that the companies were never really private because they were regulated? do you think that because a company is privately owned it can operate unchecked? do you think any government can allow unfettered capitalism, without protecting the citizens to a degree? if there were no statutes on usury, for example, don´t you think moneylenders would charge 500% interest? if there were no insurance regulators, do you think insurance companies would pay claims? are you sure you are living on earth?
From: Canada
Just what he said dread they would not empower them to collect from deadbeats...and if it is painful take a pill cause you are one dread ....you are a lefty socialist you are belial light...and that is why you have a government job
From: Canada
Most people know that Americans benefit from
* high taxes
* powerful unions
* limited consumer choice
* strong government control
But most people lack the training to fully understand why we derive benefits from these policies, and why government control over public anything results in unsurpassable quality (transportation, education, health, etc.).
To remedy your "knowledge deficit" you can ask us any question you choose, and it will be explained by the legendary Professor Dread Locks in a language that you can understand.
From the evils of profiteering, corporatism, and economic exploitation to the rewards of regulation, social justice, and community/stakeholder involvement, Professor Dread Locks will use his agile mind to clarify the otherwise intimidating field of economics with an endless supply of useless data and statistics....and remember in those immortal words of Comrade Bob " Happy days are just around the corner "
From: Canada
You see Dread chasing knowledge is a fools game...I use the wealth of experience to answer questions without the burden of knowledge ...get my drift
From: Canada
Dread I came across this and thought I would pass it on to you....This is the forerunner of "All in the Family" and the prototype of Archie...I have always thought the english version was far funnier than the US version ...the show started in the late 60s this episode is over 20 years old and is about football I sincerely hope you find the old bigot amusing....Sanford and Son also ripped off an english comedy called Steptoe and Son about father and son scrap collectors but in England they were jews not black...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHNRngtkzSsWritten by: juliony, 13 Jul 2008 8:48 PM
From: United States, New YOrk
Blanco,
I really have no idea from where you are getting your numbers.. about 12 years ago.. some friends visited Fernandez and mentioned about developing a solar plant in the DR. But Mr. Fernandez, sold the CDE to a private sector to buy it back 8 years later for more money than
what he sold it for.
to fix the electrical problem. we need 989 million dollars, we can probably ask for a loan or donations from our Dominicans leaving in the exterior. The plant is price at 680 Million Dollars and the difference will be to change cables and wire the entire nation.
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try 25 and billions of pesos if not dollars to provide electricty to country now of 9 million people and whose elected officials and even private business owners and groups including individuals,do not see this as an issue. this electrical issue is a cash cow for a few and a disgrace to the image of the RD.
In 25 years the story has gone from issue tp problem to crisis to situation to whatever they call it now. i call it a big rip at 27 cents a KWH tdo the consumer. the highest in the world.
well at least we are number 1 in something
Dominican State-owned power companies.
State-owned explains it all.
Huh??? How does the scarcity of foods effect an energy sector?????
These crooks are just sucking from the gigantic tit for all its worth.
Now get me more ice for my drink!
Unlike you I have a life. I have responsibilities and interests. I can't nor want to be here waiting for your silly replies.
F.Y.I.
The Dominican Republic does not have either an energy or a food crisis. There are plenty pf both. The problem is a political one.
Of course he isn't in a state of crisis. Maybe in his own mind he.
Crisis, when discusssing energy or food implies that the problems are due to external forces and not the fault of the Dominican Republic.
The energy and food problems in the DR are a product of the DR's own actions.
I do not support the Nanny State
Of course it is annoying. It is also annoying to have the power controlled by the Government when it should be controlled by private companies and citizens.
It is annoying that people whine about problems yet stick the hand out to the Gov and say "Gimme."
Funny little man.
I pop in here from time to time in between "evil" speculating and oppressing the masses.
Life is good.
it is called Capitalism. Check it out. It works fine.
"is there some sort of guarantee that it will function optimally in private hands?"
It works wherever it is used.
"if my understanding of the DR is correct, they have tried both private and public ownership, both with equally dismal results. ergo, it appears that the ownership model is not the problem here; it lies somewhere else."
The DR has never had true private power companies. Their attempt was highly regulated and prevented the companies from collecting payments from a large segment of their clientel.
* high taxes
* powerful unions
* limited consumer choice
* strong government control
But most people lack the training to fully understand why we derive benefits from these policies, and why government control over public anything results in unsurpassable quality (transportation, education, health, etc.).
To remedy your "knowledge deficit" you can ask us any question you choose, and it will be explained by the legendary Professor Dread Locks in a language that you can understand.
From the evils of profiteering, corporatism, and economic exploitation to the rewards of regulation, social justice, and community/stakeholder involvement, Professor Dread Locks will use his agile mind to clarify the otherwise intimidating field of economics with an endless supply of useless data and statistics....and remember in those immortal words of Comrade Bob " Happy days are just around the corner "
I really have no idea from where you are getting your numbers.. about 12 years ago.. some friends visited Fernandez and mentioned about developing a solar plant in the DR. But Mr. Fernandez, sold the CDE to a private sector to buy it back 8 years later for more money than
what he sold it for.
to fix the electrical problem. we need 989 million dollars, we can probably ask for a loan or donations from our Dominicans leaving in the exterior. The plant is price at 680 Million Dollars and the difference will be to change cables and wire the entire nation.