Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic's power companies grouped in ADIE yesterday announced legal action against the Dominican Port Authority (Apordom), for allegedly charging un-contracted services illegally, situation it said has led to liens served against several of their members.

In a statement the ADIE said Apordom has sent various invoices in the millions of pesos to power companies, charging for alleged use of the ports by their barges, charging for storage, reception and delivery of imported liquid bulk freight.

ADIE said that after the companies refused to pay those alleged irregular fees, Apordom has placed the liens on several power companies, such as EGE Haina and Seaboard Dominicana, without the Executive Branch’s authorization for this type of action.

The private power companies affirm Apordom violates its own regulation as a Services Provider, when charging fees neither provided nor requested by the generators and ignoring that the structures where the barges are moored aren’t considered a commercial port or commercial marine operation.

ADIE, which groups AES Dominicana, Dominican Power Partners, Cogentrix, among others, said the barges aren’t located within the perimeter of any port or any place designated to be managed and economically operated by Apordom. It also affirms that the power companies haven’t contracted nor used Apordom’s services to store and import bulk freight.

More Blackouts

The power companies warn that the standoff could lead to more blackouts during the holidays, as the power companies affected by Apordom’s alleged illegal collections suspend operations of their plants. "If the illegal attitude remains, the companies affected by the liens will be forced to suspend their operations."

Off the record

Yesterday the head of one of the ADIE’s member companies, who asked not to be identified, also said the power companies are concerned with the US$300 million the Government owes them, since they have yet to “receive a clear signal” by the head of the State-owned power companies, Celso Marranzini, that it would in fact be paid by the end of December.