SANTO DOMINGO.- The administrator of the Dominican Government’s energy group (CDEEE) announced today that it renegotiates contracts with 3 power companies, at once countering statements by Kevin Manning, president of the American Chamber of Commerce, who said that instead of seeking such renegotiations, what the Government should do is penalize fraud, which the official said doesn’t share.

Radhamés Segura said that Manning’s statements are those of a person who represents the interests of the AES Corporation, and that what he represents are those of the Dominican population.

“The interests of a private company are always to maximize their profits, contrary to the Government’s interest, which is to provide the population with an efficient and low cost energy service,” he said.

He announced that president Leonel Fernandez convened the Electrical Cabinet to evaluate the energy situation and that the Government expects to reach an agreement with the power companies without the need to go to international arbitration.

He attributed the increase in blackouts to the lack of payments by some sectors, to failures among others, affirming that most blackouts take place in middle-class and poor sectors, which have problems in paying the electric bill.

The official said that the Government religiously pays the subsidy so that the country’s poorest aren’t punished with the interruptions.

Segura said the meeting of the denominated Energy Cabinet with Fernandez in the National Palace this morning is to discuss the electrical situation and that once concluded the press will be give the results.