Minister for Energy and Ports Rayburn Blackmoore has called for the proper regulation of the island’s energy sector and the sole power company, Dominica Electricity Services Ltd (DOMLEC).
“DOMLEC has to be properly regulated and that is important to ensure that the public interest, the only transcending interest, is protected and maintained at all times,” he told a handing over ceremony of two 25-year licenses to DOMLEC on Monday.
He added that the company has made a deliberate effort in recent times to show its commitment to working with the government.
According to Blackmore the country is still faced with high energy costs as consumers are charged at least $1.16 cents per kilowatt hour, making the island amongst the highest in the Caribbean region.
“Dominica, like many other Caribbean states, does not have natural gas or oil and we depend heavily on fossil fuel for energy generation. Last year for example we spent, through DOMLEC, an average $52-million for the express purpose of importing diesel for energy generation. That is a drag on any economy,” the minister stated.
He, therefore, urged the use of natural resources, more specifically geothermal energy, which, according to him, will reduce the cost of energy by 30 to 40 percent.
“Based on our estimates therefore if we are to build a small 15 megawatt power plant and are given the commitment by the end of 2015 to do just that we can cut back on the cost of energy on the consumer in the first instance to about 30 to 40 percent and as we graduate into the larger power plants to cut it down even more significantly,” he remarked.
Blackmore pointed out that with such an initiative Dominica will be able to attract energy intensive companies.
I have been reading and listening to news for years if theres two days in a month without power shortage boy……ITS A SICK COUNTRY,PEOPLE STARTING FROM THE LEADER LAZY VIEILLE CASE IS NOW DEPLOMATIC
But wait…I thought Domlec was owned by both WRD and the Government of Dominica, with WRD owning majority shares. So Mr. Blackmoore tell me how can you (Government of Dominica) regulate yourself. this thing don’t make any sense. That’s why a government should not own shares in any private company. Their job is to regulate and regulate and should not be involved in any private holdings. If Domlec is making big profit on the backs of consumers, so too is the Government as they own the rest of the shares, so why oh why should we believe that you (Government of Dca) would now put any policies in place to restrict the amount of monies coming into the public purse (Treasury)?
Blackmore has an Independent Regulatory Commission which, proportionally, employs more people than DOMLEC whose only function is to regulate DOMLEC, yet it is not regulated. The IRC rents two floors of a very expensive building in Roseau, employs all kinds of engineers and a director, who finances this IRC? An expensive outfit to Maco one company and we pay the bill.
Blackmore u look very worried the time is near, the time will come for u to do the right thing ,talk Blackmore talk u owe it to the people of Dominica say what u no.
Raymond is so cute !
Mr Blackmoore.
Hello and good afternoon. Well it seems like Mr Blackmoore is the head or Ports and Energy. Why would one person be the head of two important departments within the Government and does he hold an Engineering Degree in any of the fields for which he is the head of. We have so many rivers and its very painful to watch fresh water just draining into the sea. So why can’t we determine how much electricity we need then we can build a Dam on a major river to generate the electricity we need. Instead of spending Fifty Two Million Dollars to purchased Diesel which is used to generate electricity. We should take a loan to build a dam then we can used that money to repay the loan. We are wasting water and we aren’t making good use of our Rivers. Just look at the developed countries and see how they generate most of their electricity .
Blackmore nothing you say adds up and if it does its mediocre; This is why I say so:
Road Project yet to be completed on several dates you gave as deadlines; Some of the roads are poorly constructed, our local Engineers/Public works would do a much better job;
Night Landing – Disaster to the point business men had to write LIAT to fix its schedule and get the tourist in. Without LIAT the Helicopter Pad is not in operation.
Truckers and Gattachan(whatever the spelling is) still at logger heads.
Geothermal – a bunch of lies and no Environmental study to show the public the impact. Also in a small country like DA DMLEC and the Geothermal company should be working hand in hand.
We want a less costly means of energy but Blackmore and his boys LACK the ability to NEGOTIATE, Implement and execute ALL the possible projects to the benefit of the people. They think of their pocket first and country last so we get a PASS PASSA..crappy and MEDIOCRE…nothing to boast about , nothing to propel us forward as a nation, nothing to make the world look at us like a serious nation ready for business.
This implies that it is not properly regulated…..
Boy boy boy our electricity rate is among the highest in the Caribbean. We wonder why we cannot attract local or foreign investments.
Talk about yes we care – These gang of wolves had various windows of ooportunity to effect a reduction in electricity rates for the people and to effectively attract investments but noooo the gang of wolves are too busy setting up their own companies and being board members of companies that seek to plunder the countries very little resources. After making public statements, news release that the people of Dominica would see a 30% reduction in electricity rates it is now 8 years and jic j’hordi ayen . We can only guess that the 30 cents on every dollar that we the people have spent on electricity has gone in the pockets of the self serving MF ( not very kind). Those who are building houses , those with hidden bank accounts and still family members running the show.
To the next administration – let it be known that it will be my solemn duty to hold you responsible for tracking down these crooks and prosecuting all of them. No jazi moozaille;no Tony Astaphan excuses cause we never want to see this kind of corruption in government ever. So if the next government is Lennox Linton’s – Mr Linton more than anybody else you must immediately proceed with criminal investigations and when these criminals are charged then we will begin to realize your administration is serious about curbing corruption. If not Mr Linton you will go down as the biggest phony , hypocrite ever- worse than Anthony Astaphan.
I refer to Astaphan who is on record talking about the impact of corruption on the people and the economy – He spoke about the unwillingness of investors , no trickle down effect and ultimately poverty. Well hello what do we have in Dominica is exactly what Anthony Astaphan spoke about – poverty, no investments , rich ministers of government, rich cabal and abject poverty among the masses. The high electricity rate in Dominica is a hallmark of the corruption in the Roosevelt skerrit administration.
The Glanvillia land dispute is just another example of the impact of corruption -Krazy T may want elaborate on that issue; the Chinese who, Nassief etc may choose to remain silent.
My classmate who had been waiting for the promised house for 11 years. When I walk through the communities I am saddened by the state of the economy , the disenfranchisement of the people.
I am not a UWP member nor supporter but I have no choice but to proclaim that change is absolutely necessary in Dominica.
And what about out hydroelectric power?
According to Blackmore the country is still faced with high energy costs as consumers are charged at least $1.16 cents per kilowatt hour, making the island amongst the highest in the Caribbean region. What is our government doing to prevent higher rates and higher profits for the company?
Nothing as they own the rest of the shares and are themselves profiting from this, not to mention the VAT and fuel surcharge they are getting from it.
You well late to the party…2X25 year agreements just signed and now you want to negotiate?
Ray, while you’re stressing the importance of geothermal energy, which I support, why not provide homeowners and businesses alike, significant incentives for the purchase and installation of solar energy panels. We ARE the Nature Isle, after all, and that is in keeping with that meme. We are blessed with abundant sunshine year round, allow people to make the best use of it. That would significantly reduce your fossil fuel bill. In the meantime, continue with the geothermal project – when that comes on line, we can not market our low energy costs to prospective businesses. And in keeping with the nature isle meme, to further reduce our fuel imports, provide other incentives and reduce the duty rates on hybrid vehicles and increase the duty on vehicles (of the same class as the hybrids) that run solely on fossil fuel. That should force most people to migrate to hybrids.
I do agree 100%. But I think this idea is not palatable to this lot. They only think as far as their nose reaches. Medium or long term thinking and strategies are not their forte. Furthermore, this would mean a drop of import duty revenues and that most certainly is not on their agenda or to their liking.
no point in having hybrids in the country, they are useless
really? how so? when you make statements like that, don’t you think it’s your responsibility to explain just why you think hybrids are useless? or are you one of those who know absolutely nothing to which you speak?
Great idea, this solar water heater incentive has been done in Barbados; and quite successfully too.
Conservation is important too. I suggest that people use radios instead of TVs to listen to radio because TVs typically use 100 times more power than a radio.
After you gave DOMLEC a 25-year carte blanche licence, you now come here and have the guts to talk about regulation.
It is that very DOMLEC that was sold (under your nose)even whilst the licensing negotiations was going on. Yet you turn around and reward them for their treachery.
Domlec have been a unrepentant burden on the backs of Dominicans and to extend their reign of terror by a 1/4 century is really a betrayal of the future of the youth both born and unborn.
Domlec has the highest percentage of free renewable energy(hydro) to their production in the English Caribbean, yet they have the highest rate of electricity billing in the region.
IRC have not made any tangible difference to the public’s benefit in over 5 years of existence, for that matter their is s is the perception that they are collaborating with the provider, to the woeful disadvantage of the long-suffering consumers.
What about hydroelectric power? With all our rivers I could never understand why we have to depend so much on fossil fuel. I understand there are technical challenges and our terrain is difficult but at $1.16 per KWh surely we can find a way.
But you said that for Petro Caribe…we are still waiting on the benefits to pass on to the consumers.
can please somebody explain me how geothermal energy should reduce the energy price for 30-40%? I mean DOMLEC is a private entity why should they reduce the electricity price is they are monopoly.
According to Investopedia:
A type of market that features one, if not all, of the traits of a monopoly such as high price levels, supply constraints, or excessive barriers to entry. Because this type of market would be comprised of one supplying firm, consumers would have no choice but to purchase solely from this firm. Without proper legislation or controls, this firm possesses the power to raise prices without adversely affecting demand for its products/services. This type of market stands in contrast to a perfectly competitive market.
Dominica government were not capable to create a legal framework to control DOMLEC in the past? So how you are going to reduce energy price in the future?
OH so now we are among the highest in the Caribbean huh. Mr Blackmoore and his friends down in Jimmit must tell us why it is that the promise of lower electricity rates never ever got to the poor people. DOMLEC rates is not the problem – it is the VAT, fuel surcharges and additional government charges.
You politicians need to stop the friggin deception.
You and Skerrit blame the UWP for selling out DOMLEC but today you are granting the same company two 25 year license. You guys are not ridiculous.
So …no love for the solar sector? or wind?or hydro? All these tecnologies are avaliable NIW. Hyrro is admittedly expensive capital expenditure-wise (although we could be doing locally based research into how this can be done more efficiently – building small dams to power villages as well as providing water supplies should be an advancing and dynamic project) . but Solar electricity is getting cheaper by the day and wind power is available. Even if Geothermal is the long term solution to our energy woes, we should be advancing these other sources in the short to medium term. Other countries have proven that energy policy is best pursued through a mix of technologies. Oil is NOT going to get any cheaper.
If DOMLEC pays $52 million to Petro Caribe for Diesel, what happens to Petro Caribe after the Geothermal?
Did I hear the Minister say that DOMLEC and Emera are also involved in the construction of a geo thermal plant? Is it the same that the government is doing?
There is some deliberate confusion.
So what?????? All talk and no action chupes!!! Am just tired with these politicians and their false pretense.
Mr. Blackmoore, good job here. I am wondering, just a little bit, if you have a similar game plan to regulate the ports in Dominica, to curtail the flow of drugs, guns and ammunition and other contraband.
What a laugh! Is Blackmore calling on himself to properly regulate domlec? If he thinks that the body set up to regulate is not doing a good job then all he has to do is disband them and do it himself .