Long maldito blackouts

[windeguy]

We have family in Jarabacoa where the power is on in most locations 24/7 barring an emergency. This happened when they were able to get most all of the barrio houses on a meter and paying at what I believe is a subsidized rate in many cases. BUT, they are paying something. It is a slow learning process that seems to be working in that community.

[Hipocrito Mejia]

This has been going on for sometime now. When I was in DR at the end of March, I noticed a lot more blackouts than usual in La Vega and Santiago. In both places, we are supposed to be on 24hr circuits, so in the past, we used to get the odd 5 to 10 minutes blackout, but when I was there at the end of March, service was so bad that our inverters completely discharged at both places. Something else is going on, and they are now blaming it on the tornadoes.

[Lambada]

One for the conspiracy theorists - extrapolating from a comment here that outtages could effect logistics of getting results on May 16th.
El Nuevo Norte > Inicio

Zimbabwe anyone?

[Skippy1]

I think we are a long way from Zimbabwe here. At least I have not heard of any military intimidation and violence yet.
The problem with the power stems from the system used to distribute it.
Low voltage transmission makes it easy to steal. The fact that the system is open to anyone with a ladder from the street is another. Not so easy to steal the electric when the cables are buried underground. Stealing the cable becomes more time consuming too.
Skippy1

[reese_in_va]

I agree with Skippy, we have a way's to go before there is complete military intimidation/ violence.
Once again, lets see how the elections turn out and see what happens thereafter.
The electricity system here is WIDE open. I was amazed when the power company came cut our line off the transformer, hooked up our new meter, then connected our main supply line to the house (off the meter) with electrical tape. They left the wires dangling and did not pick up there debris from the work they did. They also put ruts in my lawn from there trucks.
These people don't care. The mentality is just not there for "customer service" nor for respect of someone else's property. This is a machine at work, so far gone and just spinning. There's no way to stop it, control it or make changes in the way it operates.
Self-sufficiency is the only way to be in this country to avoid being at other peoples mercy.

[windeguy]

After a period of not posting the "ideal electrical power supply schedule" on Edenorte's web site, they finally started posting it again. Presumably they didn't post the schedule because of the repair work being done after the tornadoes.

Previous to the storms which were reported to cause disruptions even on the North Coast, the interruptions were for two 3 hour periods per day and pretty much agreed to the schedule Edenorte posted. Where I live they were pretty close to the posted schedule.

Now the new schedule shows one 3 hour off period per day. My guess is that this is an election ploy and will get much worse again just after the elections. Any bets on that?

[Ringo]

I looked at the schedule that Edenorte has. They put the new one up yesterday? My area is still not on the schedule but we have been enjoying our daily black outs. On our second today with an hour off/half hour on/ now off. All before 10:15 AM.

My bet is with you Wguy... After the elections, I think a lot of things are going to ah...ah.. adjust.

Regards, Ringo

[beeza]

With oil reaching a record $120 a barrel maybe they are economising on consumption?

The way the most electricity is produced in this country is by thirsty gas turbine generators and even some old smoky diesel plants like down in Puerto Plata.

I don't think that the EDE's have adjusted their tarrifs to include this price hike in fuel, so maybe it's their way of saving a few bucks.

Just speculation on my behalf but possibly using the recent weather episodes as a convenient excuse!

[Hillbilly]

Today's Listin says they a re due to the METRO having two "privileged" circuits....

They take from us and give to the poor people going to the Book Fair....

Hummm,,,and when the Metro enters service????

the electricity law says that we are supposed to get 1 1/2 hours free service for every 1 hour of blackout. My horometer at the generator says over 3500 hours...so they owe me 1.5 x 3500 = 5250 hours of electricity for free!!! Think I have much chance of getting it??? Yeah, like Estrella will win the elections!!

HB

[Keith R]

Originally Posted by Hillbilly

Today's Listin says they a re due to the METRO having two "privileged" circuits....

Gee, I thought we were promised that the Metro would have its own power supply -- not pull from existing supplies. I was always skeptical of this claim. I am even more leery of such claims in the age of high cost petroleum...