Cost of electricity may rise, appeal made for conservation

meterDominicans may have to dig deeper into their pockets to pay for their electricity bills as drought conditions are affecting DOMLEC, the island’s sole provider of electricity, and its capacity to generate electricity at its hydro facility.

Speaking on DOMLEC’s radio show “Power Talk” the company’s general manager, Collin Cover, said late last year and in early 2013, Dominica experienced “the right type of rainfall” and the company was able to generate “good production” from its hydro electricity plant and according to him, that helped to drive the cost of fuel surcharge down.

However, from the first week of February, the rains have not been forthcoming and this is going to affect the price of the surcharge. “We are having a rough time …the price of fuel is contuning to climb again,” he said. “We are in the Kawem (dry season) and so our hydro is not giving us the the sort of relief that we would like it to give.”

However, he noted that the matter is “a seasonal thing and we are expecting come May, the hydro will start production again and should help us defray the cost of the fuel.”

Cover did not specify when any new price hike will be reflected in customers bills, nor did he say how much of a hike there will be.

He is appealing to residents to make the conservation of electricity ‘a lifestyle.’

“What I would really like to say to customers, they should simply have conservation as a lifestyle,” he noted. “My feeling is that even if something is cheap, it should not be wasted … and I am not saying the power is cheap, it is very expensive …I will encourage people to get conservation as a way of life not just necessarily when the fuel surcharge is high…”

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62 Comments

  1. Mamizoo
    April 10, 2013

    Our people are just so naive and gullible to know surprise at the announcement by DOMLEC. The officials from DOMLEC and government spokes person told the people of Dominica that there were not going to be hikes but if our people were independent minded and analytical they would have notice that the circumstances surrounding the sale of DOMLEC would inevitably mean a hike in rates. The government knew that, Tony Astaphan knew that yet they were on radio fooling the people.
    How much of this deception can our people take. You see when some of us think that we are doing or saying what is best for our party instead of country , the acid rain falls on every man’s roof and crop.
    This government had the chance to buy the company CDC when it was right to do so yet as usual the PM blamed the opposition. So today another foreign ompany is allowed to come in again to use our resources to drill our empty pockets.
    I can guarantee that the ministers who facilitated this travesty thought about themselves not the people

  2. EARTH
    April 9, 2013

    If it was just hydro why the killer fuel surcharge? Please sell our electricity com’ back to us Dominicans.AND MOVE GET OUT OF THE WAY.

  3. Hype
    April 9, 2013

    Don’t believe the HYPE!
    That was never an issue in the past or CDC engineers were geniuses.

  4. simplicity
    April 9, 2013

    Jah…if its not one thing in this country is another…

    Dominica we need an stand up and demonstrate, stop sitting idly by.

    Liars and blocksucking politicians and directors taking us as puppets, let our voices be heard collectively.

  5. toma
    April 9, 2013

    Do politicians listen to the plight of the people, oh oh where is for the people, by the people, after elections the people is forgotten.

  6. Dcan
    April 9, 2013

    That’s y people will NEVER stop stealing! After you pay all your bills, there’s no money left for grocery therefore people have to resort to stealing…maygwasa Domlec

  7. John
    April 9, 2013

    When I’m coming back home I’ll be coming with my Solar power system by God’s Grace, Geothermal or not. Even if oil goes down the price still stays high and I think it will be the same with Geothermal. I know the Solar System will be costly but I believe I will see and enjoy the benefits God’s willing.

    • Lapin
      April 10, 2013

      Good move. I have had Solar on my house since 1998 so that I have not paid a DOMLEC bill for 14 years and I have lights, fridge, computer. It is expensive to buy the equipment, but within a few years it is paid off, if you calculate what you would have spent in DOMLEC Bills.

  8. Frenz
    April 9, 2013

    I wonder why the company Pwedevais solely owned by the …. cyan pick up the slack. But then again not even the director of audit can question Petro Caribe and Pwedevais.
    Someone please challenge me on this – anybody? Lizavier4jesus, Peeping Tom, Dorival John, IPO.

    • Frenz
      April 10, 2013

      DNO I didn’t think that the words pit bull would be offensive so much so that you deleted the words from my blog.

  9. perry mason
    April 9, 2013

    can you imagin that every day on the island in some areas there’s no power always taking power whats are dominican’s paying for domlet should be the one paying dominicans back for stealing from them ,they already not getting service for what they are paying and now still wants more this is BS stand up to domlet my people stand up take them to court,let them give you’ll the service all you are paying for.

  10. water
    April 9, 2013

    Now lets see what would be happening ten years down the line when these dry periods last even longer and our opposition’s plan for more hydro stations was implemented. I am just saying,,, the proof is in the ….

  11. Precious
    April 9, 2013

    When last someone had their salaries increased?
    Tax keep on going up except our salaries in Dominica.
    :(

  12. Cluless
    April 9, 2013

    Every year about this time Domlec has an agenda. They simply use the suppose to be dry season as a reason to raise cost. This year the season has not been without it’s share of rain each week but prices still going up. Yet there are folks that still talking about Hydro Electricity.

  13. SUnny Jim
    April 8, 2013

    SOLAR PANELS PEOPLE! ITS SUNNY 99.9% of the year. Why isn’t the government using alternative energy sources such as placing solar panels on the roofs of buildings. Energy is much to expensive in Dominica. 8-O

  14. Poor
    April 8, 2013

    Very poor gobbleglook Colin. Can you say that in english now?
    Nothing but a political move to get Domlec in the geothermal game, in light of the latest geo vs hydro retoric between gov’t and opposition. Guess which side he is pushing now…well you guessed it!
    Poor move, it stinks.

    • Annon
      April 9, 2013

      You are so right. He is just touting their intention to increase rates again, just because they can. That’s his attempt to soften the blow.

      Traffalga’s is a majestic river. Sometimes even the boiling lake level goes down a bit but that never diminishes the river flow.

  15. Saddened
    April 8, 2013

    LOL What a joke!

  16. Rocky Hills
    April 8, 2013

    Domlec keep the prices going up..very good work
    The Red Clinic provides much relief for paying Bills On the island…

  17. Affection8
    April 8, 2013

    so why are the customers always paying for it. Domlec can afford to absorb the cost for the short time. they making enough profit. Alas, poor the poor people of this country.

  18. Dominican
    April 8, 2013

    in CO with the government just turn our pockets inside out and take the last cent out from us.

  19. touché
    April 8, 2013

    So when its in the rainy season or hurricane season,when there is alot of rain,WHY THE PRICE DON’T DROP? Poor excuse DOM-LEC (Lying Electricity Company)

    • Anonymous
      April 9, 2013

      Oh my!!! Couldn’t agree with you more. How can I keep liking this? Domlec intends to spoon us over one way or another.

  20. Kay
    April 8, 2013

    Salaries need to rise. I am feedup with DOmlec now. Is this a prank? Will Domlec be boasting how many millions they make in profit end of year?

    • Anoushah Alie
      April 9, 2013

      It’s the evil of Capitalism! Only companies make profits, while workers suffer with menial pay and benefits.

    • Malgraysa
      April 9, 2013

      Kay, with 15% vat you should realise that Govt. made more out of Domlec last year than the company made itself. That is on top of the profit they are making out of the sale of diesel fuel to Domlec. Nobody makes a noise about that

  21. WHO VEX VEX
    April 8, 2013

    LATE LAST YR AND EARLY 2013 Dominica experienced “the right type of rainfall” and the company was able to generate “good production” from its hydro electricity plant and according to him, that helped to drive the cost of fuel surcharge down.

    REALLY???????????

    SO WHY OUR BILLS WERE NOT DOWN DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME?????????

    And i hope when rain start to fall bills will go down

    • (.) (.)
      April 8, 2013

      And, the year has just started too…..It’s only April Mr.Cover…give me a break. Knowing that there is always a dry season year after year at the same time, why not put some money aside from all the profit made by the company to pay for fuel? It’s not hard….Oh, I see…some bigger bosses need some extra cash in his/her pocket so the poor man will have to pay for it.

  22. Anonymous
    April 8, 2013

    Still no geothermal? Domlec should continue to go higher and higher.

  23. new york
    April 8, 2013

    dominica is get like new york prices are so high

  24. April 8, 2013

    all out strike i say…. no job more bills

  25. don't hate
    April 8, 2013

    Drought affecting domlec but wait how many rivers we have 365… right! :twisted: unless 366 dry up and we have one left. stop trying to fool the people. :twisted:

  26. April 8, 2013

    Dominicans Remember that We suffered under Cable & Wireless/LIME just like the Children of Israel suffered under Pharoah Now we are under the Bondage of DOMLEC fret not DELIVERENCE SHALL COME.

  27. Malatete
    April 8, 2013

    Domlect are begging our indulgence for price rices because of a water shortage whilst on the other side Mr. Austrie is exhorting people to export water. What is going on? Doesn’t one side talk to the other? Maybe there is an imbalance but surely they should consult before putting out such conflicting stories on the same day. Anyway, it is not mr. Austrie, who is losing out. He is both in charge of water and Petrocaribe. I always thought water and oil don’t mix but obviously, in his case they do, smart fellow!

    • Frenz
      April 9, 2013

      Lol. Ths government has defied every logic even the laws of physics.

    • Anonymous
      April 9, 2013

      So if one river has good flow for extracting water does that mean the river from which we generate electricity also has enough flow to generate electricity?

      Just because A=B, that does not mean A=C.

  28. Fed-Up!
    April 8, 2013

    Then my salary should rise if I am to pay any further increase in electricity. I can barely afford it now, is not then I will be able to pay if Government does not give me a hike in salary.
    Domlec sakway mechasntey!

  29. %
    April 8, 2013

    But didn’t our leaders tell Dominicans that with Petro Caribe, the price of Electricity would plummet downwards to almost nothing?
    That’s why i have nothing to do with people who lie, cheat and steal you know!
    With rampant poverty and unemploymnent on island, i guess people will have to go back to the “””Boos Eye””” or the ones who are better of will use candles. Those who are looting the country and milking the cow are the ones who will have electricity. WAY PAPA!

    • simplictiy
      April 9, 2013

      how on earth can you “thumbs down” tis comment. that is exactly what they said..

      I guess you must be making an $11,000 salary and chupull for the 95% of others that can barely eat properly

  30. Rigid
    April 8, 2013

    Man…Geothermal suddenly doesn’t look so bad now. lol.

    • Jay
      April 9, 2013

      Wait till you find out the price you have to pay is higher than the one we are exporting electricity for to the French. Remember, I said so.

  31. April 8, 2013

    PREVO..Mr, PREVOST more HYDRO PLS.

  32. ti mama
    April 8, 2013

    COVER me how much do u pay and ihe big officials

  33. anonymat
    April 8, 2013

    Mr prevost I think they just thre
    w cold. Water on your dream for hyddo vs geo. Alas

  34. pbs
    April 8, 2013

    Whether it is rainy season or not electricity prices are always high here. So Kaweem is no excuse for high electricity prices. !!!!!!!!!!!

  35. NO Bull
    April 8, 2013

    See Population! there we go again need to control our resources and utilities.Sometimes things can be left to the invisible hand of the free market but some cnnot be allowed moreso in poor lands like DA. We have so much bloody water we failed in the past to dam up the over supplies for our hydro production. if countries with long term plans ( like a young man courtinga beautiful young decent lady) he treat her exceptionally wll party ,gifts, food dinning trips etc just as the chinese dinned and wine Medard etc) before the shafting. The young girl once she accepts the gifts etc is well enroute to being shafted.
    back to the pont China plans on shafting the entire caribbean. like a young athlete in the region say shane Shilling ford(just an ej) can shaft all over the regiion. Cina offers the same gifts to all the countires in the region with the aim of the shafting to come. Now Medard and all these idiots could have gone for massive hydro plants instead of the stadium malice house 0f 27Million US and electricity could be as cheap as gas is in Saudi Arabia.Fromthere all kind of industries could spring forth secondary to cheap factors of production ej in this case energy.
    Domlec was just sold again who was in the negotiation in the previous sale TimTim here he goes again ectopic to his ministry.
    The UWP shafted DA into selling Domlec then came medard and his mascaradesSo UWP and labour administrations have failed DA now we have the DFP camoflaged as DLP doing the same again.
    I guess we forget the history of foreign companies on our soil.Take a step back in our economic history DomCab timbers.Drs Willie ,Riviere gave us information backin the 70’s it’s sad to see a tainned political economist turn lawyer does not see it fit make an imput instead prostituted himself to both the UWP and now the camoflages DFP under medard et al.That political economist is just aanother brick in the wall of former extreme poverty get /meets opportunity.

  36. BigMe
    April 8, 2013

    All you serious? Just now we have to tell our employers to send our pay check to Domlec and tell them please do cut the power, have mercy just 1 light bulb I using.

  37. anonymous3
    April 8, 2013

    A joke dat man? I’ll goo back to my lamp and candle we papa! We can hardly afford to keep our lights on now!!!!! This is just ridiculous!!!

  38. Morihei Ueshiba
    April 8, 2013

    Skerrit lower the VAT

    • rapunzel
      April 9, 2013

      VAT has nothing to do with this. Is the wicked directors and owners of Domlec who simply ignore the IRC and sold shares under people nose last year to bajan company which is actually owned by a Canadian Company.

      These w%&$% people only think about themselves, that y they went to bomb iraq and Libya for their damn oil

  39. A Voice
    April 8, 2013

    You see? It doesn’t matter what pill them utility companies give Dominicans, they are willing to swallow it.

    If Dominica had several power companies, then competition would be tight, prices would drop, but with a monopoly you have to take what you get … unless you get fed up…

    • Jimi Hendrix
      April 8, 2013

      You are going to have several power companies to serve 20,000 homes? How many power companies are there in New York?

      If you think it is such a good idea maybe you should invest in one.

      Some of you people talk so much nonsense, it is unbelievable.

    • EARTH
      April 9, 2013

      You think so,, check out SAT and MARPIN, Marpin cost rising with competion. It is just HUMAN NATURE.GREED.

  40. precious
    April 8, 2013

    Again!!!!!! :twisted:

  41. optimistic
    April 8, 2013

    that’s their physiological strategy to get us all to accept geothermal. when they choke us with drought story this short dry spell cant affect them so much yet their yearly budget allocate for such times. is not witch craft alone that’s evil this is.

  42. labor Power
    April 8, 2013

    Wait after the election qui DOMLEC – wait till we keyonsis se kooyon la with cheap electricity thru Petro Caribe and next level talk.

    • toma
      April 9, 2013

      you hardly have food but you political

  43. Jimi Hendrix
    April 8, 2013

    News Flash Collin Clover, Dominicans are the most conservation conscious when it comes to electricity. By necessity, they have to be. With the high cost of electricity, they would go bankrupt otherwise.

    On another note, wasn’t UWP making all kinds of noise extolling the merits of hydro power over geothermal?

  44. man from the west
    April 8, 2013

    milking the people…them can absorb that cost for the few months wi boy..jah.

  45. Anonymous
    April 8, 2013

    Domlec. you all are killing dominicans

  46. Concern citizen
    April 8, 2013

    Domlec please do not rise the price of electricity, the people cannot afford anymore price rises.

  47. dee
    April 8, 2013

    boy all you listening?

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