Dominicans may see a drop in their electricity bills as new owners of DOMLEC are promising that they will work towards lowering the price of the utility on the island.
Recently it was announced that Light & Power Holdings Ltd. (LPH) of Barbados has acquired a 52 percent interest in DOMLEC from WRB Enterprises Inc. (WRB) of Tampa, Florida.
LPH is a subsidiary of Emera Inc., an energy and services company based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Speaking on DOMLEC’s radio show, Power Talk, President of Emera Caribbean Ltd, Sarah MacDonald said the company will work towards reducing operational costs which will in turn bring down the cost of electricity.
“The model of the utility, while not popular anywhere, is still the model that we know and we know that we can work towards reducing operational cost which allows us to be more profitable but really focus on bringing the cost of electricity down,” she said.
However this might not occur as quickly as customers may expect since the company has to make sure other operational aspects are running smoothly. “Once we know the operations are functioning well and they are stable and customers are getting reliable power, then we start looking at ‘OK how can we bring that cost down,'” MacDonald noted.
She said the company has expertise in hydro electricity and will also get involved in exploring the island’s geothermal potential. “Geothermal here is definitely what we want to get involved with,” MacDonald remarked. “We have some partners who we work with already on geothermal, so we will bring that expertise to bear.”
DOMLEC is the sole electric utility for Dominica, serving 34,000 customers. LPH now owns 52 percent of the company, with 21 percent held by the Dominica Social Security Scheme and the remainder by other investors.
Didn’t the government of Dominica own the power company including the generating plant at Trafalgar in the 1950’s and 60’s and not some foreign company? what happened Dominica people. The British built the one at Trafalgar in the 1950’s and handed it over the control of the Dominica government that is why the people of Dominica are getting the SHAFT foreigners own the electric company Dominica’s should own the company.
Like the old owners will the new continue the policy not to allow homeowners to generate their own electricity without special permits, for example hotels ?
Will Calgary-based TransCanada get a pipe line to Dominica to lower the fuel cost?
lol
IMF’s recommendation. Sell the power company. Now, who owns it? And where do the profits go to?
Way up North !
Emera a few years ago was able to brag to their shareholders in Canada, that the increase in their returns,was due to the good fortune realized in the Caribbean.
How did we arrive at this stage almost 35 years after our political independence? Is so we come?
For as long as changes are implemented and the many changes that are spoken of, it is a SHAME that only 34,000 people has electricity in their homes.
be reasonable 34000 customers is not 34000 people . Each household has about 3 persons on average; plus of course there are also many business customers. Some potential customers also generate their own electricity. Given our population of 70K or so persons 34000 customers means that pretty much everyone has electricity.
I honestly feel sorry for some of you that do not use ur common sense before talking, this does not mean that 34000 people do not have electricity, when they talk about customers they mean 34000 homes and businesses. You all are always there to bring d/ca, step up man
I see you are not good at math. Each household in Dominica serves an average of 3 people so that makes sense.
As long as my light bill get back to normal, at least 250 – 300.00 and not f4o- 500.oo.
Greed and quest for political power turn men and women into cold hearted liars. Where in the world consumers get a reduction in rates on utilities. Corporate greed continue to defy the laws of gravity – the rates keeps climbing but never comes down. Never my people – this is just another election propaganda and people fooling device.
We are not self sustaining yet the government is pushing such nonsense. Aren’t Dominicans smart enough to recognize rat meat from chicken. Last week a guy from the same company told us that rates were going up due to the kawemmm season now yo ca matir ba nous. Allah boy look lies and dishonesty so blatant that only grovelers, sycophants, dirty lawyers can’t see.
waiting to see how things unfolds and will wait for the lower price on electricity
Action speaks louder than words!!
Oh Yes, we’ll see our electricity bill go down. Yeah right!
Thank GOD
The same thing you said when they told you about Petro Caribe. So did god let you down or the lying, thieving politicians deceive you. Wait and you will see. The politicians are asking the white lady to say this because they both need each other. Greed greed and the people grieve.
Looks like geothermal is a wake-up
call for these DOMLEC exploiters 
What a shame!! A country that cannot control and possess it’s energy resource (electricity) is already doomed!!!
all i can say is uh-huh… i waiting to see that.
in which i doubt that
Hmmm,we were told the same thing when Petro Caribe came in. Then what happened? Increase in light bills! What formula will this new company use to bring down the rates? I am not holding my breath on this one….WE GO SEE!!!!
all you selling out! where is the money to there other share holders??? my brother sais he wants his 1 Cent!!! pass it!!!
I just think that the shares of DOMLEC should be made available to Dominican citizens, thereby ensuring that this business remains DOMINICAN. Why is the public NEVER given the opportunity to so do?
Well from the information presented we can deduce the ownership of 73% so the other 23% seems to be owned by the public and others.
I was thinking the same thing, in the 1960’s and 1950’s the power company was owned by the people of Dominica. Why are foreigners allowed to own the electric production on the island that’s why the people are getting screwed, SHAFTED, ripped-off and had real bad.
I am grappling with a sense of inchoate rage over the nature of policy making at Light & Power Holdings Ltd.
Lower electricity… what a load of malevolent hogwash
dont be so quick to judge. lets give them the benefit of the doubt and see what they are made of.
Yeh right tell Domir in Cans what you think they want to hear. Election is coming so please business men and women we like the money under the table but make sure you tell the people the electricity rates will drop.
But I must laugh because last week a director of the DOMLEC new management told us clearly that the rates are going up because of low rainfall. All you look majirrr in Dominica. Tongue and cheek, teeth and gums – shall we all sing the national anthem ” everything is upside down, everything inside out, everything is back to front”
What we are experiencing is the backlash of 13 years of inefficiency, self serving politicians, an administration that has been working against the interest of the Dominican people. An administration so corrupt that they use the resources of the country to pay lying deceitful and crooked lawyers to further impoverish the people of Dominica.
They blame UWP for selling DOMLEC although the culprit is sitting in their cabinet and now they deliberately jumped unboard an express train to negotiate the transfer of DOMLEC ‘ s ownership. After that they told us that they had no idea that DOMLEC was up for sale. My dear smart people of Dominica how it is that while our government is supposedly in high gear towards geothermal energy implementation the government does not know about an impending change in ownership.
Why it is that the government attorney and attorney general did not fight for the people of Dominica. Couldn’t Levi Peter invoke some type of doctrine – necessity, responsibility, integrity whatever.
What evidence is needed to conclude that SKERRIT administration is a farce, totally dishonest, incapable and blood suckers.
We are still suffering from the Petro Caribe lies, Tony lies, father priest attorney lies, father Thomas lies, Ambassador Makoomere lies,PDV lies and they are piling up more lies.
A promise is a comfort to a fool…….
i concur .we’ll see….
Yeh more lies. Last week we heard a totally different version and we know that the politicians hands are involved in this lies and misinformation. Notice that this is just an open statement no support.
That may be so in many cases, but we should have checks in place to ensure that promises are kept, or one will be held accountable.
I also concur! When hydro electricity got a boost under the DFP administration, Mr. Henry George of the Valley went public with promises of cheaper electricity to consumers. Many of us were comforted with his promise. Held: we were fooled!
I concur again! When justifying the construction of the fuel terminal and tank farm at Jimmit, proponents of Petro Caribe promised cheaper electricity on the premise that Petro Caribe would supply cheaper diesel to Domlec and thereby reduce the price to consumers. Held: we were fooled again!
blah blah blah,just accept lower profits and pass the savings on to us,simple
We will appreciate that in Dominica we are longing to see that happen,good looking out, We hope goods price will drop as well, if not government should take action’Business owers complaining electricity is high,so if electricity bill drop,I guess their prices should dropped as well.
Lower operational costs typically mean loss of jobs. We have to be careful what we ask for.
Thanks for your concern. It shows you are begining to feel our pain. Please avoid sending workers home which is usually the easy route companies take. Explore the many other options you have for rate reductin. Thank you mam.
reducing operational cost???? lets start by laying-off workers! The Big One.Michael Moore
Please save us the consumer the drama by not raising our hopes for all the utility companies (DOMLEC, dowasco, lime, ) have promised us this nicety including our own government through Petro Caribe Company only for us to see drastic increases in our bills and consumer products. So please do not promise us anything just surprise us when the time comes.
We should not be very excited about that. The operative word is “may”. We may see a drop in the price of electricity. This “may” proposition could be short-lived as well, as with new plant tariffs could increase above the savings possible with any operational savings. However it appears there is some commitment to improve operations and reliability so that is always commendable.
Well even more interesting are these 3 words “reducing operational costs”, normally to achieve this companies always look at Human Resource & Personnel, and of course in cases where there are Parent companies and Subsidiaries there are always Management fees, Due to parent company etc…, so cost increase rather than reduce…..key to OC reduction would be the quality and efficiency of the inherited plant…..
Yeah right!!!!! We have heard this before….Let me see what the said CAHUR will say in this regards.
Assertive, NOT agressive!
Hmmmm reduce operational cost? Sounds like the politically correct way of saying lay offs to me. However, I do feel that the hydro side of DOMLEC needs to be taken full adavantage of and that is a step in the right direction.
DOMLEC or whomever you are tethered to these days. We are consumers on a small island, but don’t assume that we are fools.
Dominicans, we are ignoring a proven universal principle as it relates to different aspects.
We need to ‘grow what we eat’.
here we go again!!
Considering the retirees and senior citizen, who live on a fixed income, I hope that reduction in price takes place pretty soon. Also it is very sad to know that Domlec is being run by a new company, 52%. Can’t we Dominicans ever stand on our own?
Dominica will never stand on its own because there is FEAR OF FAILURE.
Why cant Domlec be locally owned or managed? I believe that there are intelligent local citizens who are capable. Every body comes to this country do whatever they wants.but we Dominicans cant even go to there country on a vacation without being harassed by there immigration and customs.hmmm. It looks like CSME only applies to Dominica. I hope there is no plans to sell the ministry.
Talk Talk Talk Talk Talk