Marranzini: “Dominicans waste energy—That’s the real problem, not high rates”

Santo Domingo.- Celso Marranzini, president of the Unified Council of Electricity Distribution Companies (CUED), stated that electricity in the Dominican Republic is not expensive, but the real issue lies in the population’s lack of energy conservation. He criticized everyday habits such as leaving air conditioners running unnecessarily, frequently opening refrigerators, and leaving irons on while engaging in unrelated activities.

Marranzini stressed that the country’s electricity problems are rooted in wasteful practices rather than high costs. “People save phone data when it runs low, but not energy,” he said, emphasizing the need for a cultural shift toward more responsible energy use.

Regarding regional energy cooperation, Marranzini addressed the possibility of the Dominican Republic exporting electricity to Puerto Rico. He said the idea could become viable in the future with the installation of a submarine cable and the completion of infrastructure projects that are expected to boost capacity by up to 2,000 megawatts by 2028.