DOWASCO rate increase coming

 

Consumers of water supplied by DOWASCO will soon be digging deeper into their pockets as a rise in the rate of the precious commodity is coming.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced that the company, which is heavily subsidized by the government, has asked for a rate increase and the proposals are being looked at.

“DOWASCO has written to us and we are looking at it,” he stated.

Skerrit explained the rationale behind the rate increase proposed by the water company.

“DOWASCO is spending more than it is making for water,” he said. “So the water DOWASCO brings to your home is being heavily subsidized and I think we need to bring it to a level that it makes more sense to us who are consumers of water.”

He made it clear there will be a rate increase although it might not be the rate the company is proposing.

“I believe that though we might not go with the full recommended rate increase that DOWASCO is proposing but for DOWASCO to bring clean potable water to our homes, we must be able to help DOWASCO to pay for this,” he remarked.

According to Skerrit, for the last several months, the government has been paying DOWASCO “a significant sum” of subsidy for water and has been helping the company pay for its loans.

“DOWASCO has to repay its loans and we have been paying DOWASCO’s loans for the last year and a half,” he remarked.

He did not give a timeline as to when the new rates will come into effect but said the public will be consulted on the matter.

“So we will have conversation with the public, get a sense from you, and we will bring the rates a little bit up because when you look at how much money you pay for water its nowhere close to what the cost [is] to bring the water to your home,” Skerrit remarked.

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12 Comments

  1. Jason Theodore
    May 17, 2023

    Hmmm. RUBIS is back and now DOWASCO is on the attack.
    I know places that’s suffering with water problem for years and instead DOWASCO fix the problem they chose to increase on their bill.
    For years I’ve been hearing of the huge amount of money DOWASCO makes for their annual income and yet still it’s not enough to build a proper water system that’s a joke, when are we going to stop accept nonsense.
    Some of the vehicle operator are the fastest driver on island and when there’s a problem with the pipes you don’t see them racing to fix the problem for the pipes so I guess the increase in the bill is to pay for fuel for there drivers.

  2. Ibo France
    May 16, 2023

    The purchasing power of the least among us will be further diminished. No new jobs, no increase in salaries and wages, no reduction in the uncontrollable inflation, but an increase in water rate. Unconscionable! I believe this is a recommendation coming out of the recent IMF visit.

    Water is essential for life. In light of this fact, it should be made affordable to all especially the poorest and most vulnerable among us. Only an uncaring, heartless, insensitive, satanic government will add to the already economically torturous conditions of the indigent.

    My final point. How can Dominicans remain so non-chalant with this action that will have devastating consequences to poor people who make up the largest percent of the population? All this, while Roosevelt and Melissa live in a multi-million ‘crib’ financed monthly by these same over-taxed, destitute citizens.

    Note: $2 304 000 and counting has been spent by the treasury on the 1st Family lavished lifestyle.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  3. Lin clown
    May 16, 2023

    Juanita,you and MEME are notorious LIARS fake news and propaganda spreaders.That is why UWP continue to lose election after election.All Dominicans know from the first of September 2021 the minimum wage was raised,in some cases by 95% from $4.50.Some security companies refused to pay the increase from $5.00 and $5.50 per hour to the minimum wage of $8.00.The general secretary of the PSU know that.I agree with Es a large number of customers are not metered.Dowasco is not owned by government,government is Dowasco #1partner.Government HELP Dowasco financially and otherwise .Why these aholes do not educate themselves is beyond me.Their ignorance and stupidity is a plus for Labour.The majority of Dominicans are smart.Stop lying to the Dominican people.

    Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 0 Thumb down 15
  4. Just Asking
    May 16, 2023

    Paying loans subsidy for DOWASCO for a year and a half is temporary. These loans are to mitigate damage and losses due to Hurricane Maria, that will either way shortly or the life of the loan. Though expensive, we got lots of help to fix this so the subsidizing is imperative in the abundance of water. That’s why we support CBI for making basic life, WATER and ELECTRICITY easier for everyone. DON’T RAISE WATER & ELECTRIC we sell CBI for that! Where are the management skills?

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  5. Marian Sinn
    May 15, 2023

    Time to learn to conserve and DOWASCO has to quickly fix leaky pipes.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 0
  6. Es
    May 15, 2023

    Meter all connections as DOMLEC did. We will then pay for what we use and be more prudent with our use.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
  7. Juanita
    May 15, 2023

    “He made it clear there will be a rate increase although it might not be the rate the company is proposing.”

    This is eye watering. When is the increase in salaries to pay for it all? So my fellow Dominicans, how is the great “Reset” of 2022 working for you?

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 31 Thumb down 2
    • Downstream
      May 16, 2023

      I will return to the days when I made trips down to the river to fetch water – FREE water. Will bathe their, too.

      Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0
  8. Marquard
    May 15, 2023

    The absolute height of mediocrity asks to extract more money from their long suffering customers. ONLY IN DA!

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 1
  9. Shaka Zulu
    May 15, 2023

    ” a significant sum” , we paying DOWASCO loan, rate increase less than they asking…… and the vagueness continues. Is it not the Gov who owns DOWASCO? What are the rate increase they asking? What are you proposing? If you are concerned they are operating at a loss why not let them do the rate that makes sense to efficiently run the business. The bottle water industry is huge. Why has dowasco not gotten involved in providing ottke water to the region thereby increasing revenue stream?
    How on God’s earth Dominicans telling me that this is the best we can do in leadership. Every time this guys says something I am hearing either someone who does not know what the heck he says or if he does then deliberate and evil. The dishonesty in what I read above is glaring.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 3
  10. Truth Be Told
    May 15, 2023

    Mr Prime Minister please tell us who owns DOWASCO? Is the Dominica Water and Sewage Company, a Government of Dominica owned company?
    If it is not then maybe the Government should consider bringing it back into being State owned. Privatisation of utilities companies, even in developed countries, with a focus on profit over service, means that the people are always short changed one way or the other! Bring DOWASCO back into being State owned! And if it is already State owned then you the Government are the owners and can absord the losses on behalf of the tax payers! What is your point Prime Minister, is this a conversation with yourself? You seem to be trying to tax Dominicans every way nowadays, what is happening, CBI funds drying up?

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  11. MEME
    May 15, 2023

    All the utility bills are increasing, but SALARIES are stagnated, at a time when Dominica is awashed with money from passport sales. Humongous buildings are sprouting up around the place costing MILLIONS, while the majority can’t fully pay their bills.
    By the way when i was a school child, you all had me regurgitating you all foolishness that Dominica has 365 RIVERS!
    I was brainwashed by you all LIARS! That’s a big and fat lie! Dominica has many streams and rivulets, and maybe less than 10 rivers.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 1

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