"How to solve the energy problem in the DR? "

Huh, what energy problem?

I have never seen more luxury SUV's than in Santo Domingo...
Never have I seen that so many people let their lights on during the day...
Nowhere have I seen more empty offices cooled down to 'meat hanging temperautures' than in government buildings...
All in the DR.

m'frog

What they defenitely should do is file a mayor law suit against the electricity companies for breach of contract because of failing to deliver the service which is paid for by the citizens that pay for their bill each and every single month. They pay for a 24/7 service. Pro rata that money should be given back to them for all the hours which the service was not delivered. That would be the biggest blow in history for these crooks working at the EDEs. Civil organizations should unify forces and file a MEGA law suit. If the government and the EDEs do not understand it otherwise, they should feel it in their millionary pockets!

Are you serious?
Who pays? Ever been to a Barrio in the DR? Do you think those people pay one cent for their power?

Could it be that you live in a democratic country?

m'frog

I am sure that there are people that pay their electricity bill each and every single month. Those that do, should unite forces and present proof they have been paying and then the judge will have no choice but to make the EDE pay back the money (with interest!) and perhaps even a damage lawsuit could be viable for small companies like restaurants/colmados/hairdressers etc.

all good in theory, buenoha, but not in practise. do you really believe that there is any such thing in the DR as liability lawsuits? do you think you could get any judge to award you damages against an electricity provider for damages sustained from non provision of services? first thing is that the concept of liability is not one which is known here.in the USA, or any such nation, there are clear cut, well demarcated lines of responsibility in all aspects of human contact. if i am sitting at a traffic light, and a guy plows into me in New York, there is no equivocation as to who is wrong. if he has insurance coverage, his carrier will sometimes settle with me on the very same day. here, there is a dog and pony show, dragged on forever, with the insurance company and its client striving mightily to disavow culpability. then you get a lawyer to pursue the case, he takes your money, and then sells out to the adverse carrier for more money. nope..get used to it . as they say, "it is what it is".it is not going to change in your lifetime or mine.

Please explain how the right way to privatise would be. Thanks

Sell the power companies to private bidders with the caveat that they must improve service buy a certain % over a certain timeframe.
Example: Cut blackouts by 50% in 4 years.
Also apply a caveat that they must invest a certain percentage in Alternative energies.

Allow them to collect payment from everybody.......EVERYBODY.

Finally someone who agrees with me. This is how it will and should happen. If not, then we'll continue with the "Business as Usual".

actually, anthonyc, there is a law on the books, which was passed almost a year ago, making theft of electricity a crime, punishable by jail time. like most things of its kind, such as motorcycle helmet laws, it is more for show and ceremony than for enforcement. so, even if privatisation was to be the order of the day, people would still steal electricity, knowing full well that there would be no consequences, since the electricity providers would have no teeth to go after theft of service criminals!