Santo Domingo.- The State-owned Electric Utility (CDEEE) yesterday announced "a substantial payment" to the power companies this week and clarified that the latest spate of blackouts form part of the distribution companies’ grid maintainance program.
The government’s US$1.0 billion debt with the power companies has struck fear among the population that the “financial blackouts” would return.
None of the plant operators owever has announced any outtage from the system on lack of fuel.
The CDEEE said at the start of yesterday’s peak hours the electrical system had 1,682 megawatts available, mostly from fuel-fired plants.
The major plants, opreated by the power companies AES, Itabo, Haina, CESPM, and 18 smaller units supply most of the energy to the national grid.


US$500 millions .Unless it went some where else?......