World Bank US$120M aims to boost Electric Utility

Santo Domingo.- The State-owned Electric Utility (CDEEE) and the World Bank on Thursday announced the start of the second phase of the Electric Network Rehabilitation and Loss Reduction Program, at a cost of US$120 million to benefit more than 450,000 people.

The program covers around 26 circuits in sectors of the National District and Santo Domingo, San Cristóbal, Duarte, Santiago, Puerto Plata and Monseñor Nouel provinces, where the metering systems will be improved in eight additional circuits of the distributor Edesur, which will be remotely metered.

The announcement was made at the Marriott Hotel by CDEEE CEO Rubén Jiménez, along with World Bank interim resident representative Maritza Rodríguez, and Mark Lambrides, World Bank Program coordinator, and CDEEE Project Executing Unit coordinator, Marilyn Brito.

Jiménez said 18 circuits will be rehabilitated in the concession areas of the three distribution companies; Eight for Edesur, seven for Edenorte and three for Edeeste.

Jiménez and Rodríguez agreed on the need to improve the EDEs’ finances by reducing system’s net losses, which currently stands at 30 percent, and improving the quality of the supply.

Brito said the project would improve service for more than 120,000 homes, benefiting 453,253 people, whereas Lambrides noted that the losses force a government subsidy of two percent of GDP.