Can you believe this, Domlec goes on local radio encouraging people to use their generators to produce their own power. My-my-my things have change. I can recall a situation where a local hotel in Dominica decided to produce their on power by using there generator and Domlec was totally against the idea.
Cut the BULL-SH**T DOMLEC – your company made EC$ 6.24 MILLION IN PROFITS this financial year on the backs of a population less than 65,000 – ONLY IN DOMINICA PEOPLE WILL STAND FOR THIS NON-SENSE. With this kind of profits every year, Domlec is still relying on hydro plants to produce electrical power. If so, it’s not reflected on consumers electricity bills at the end of the month.
With all the un-scheduled power outage be Domlec in May, I’m pretty sure consumers will be scrutinizing their electricity bill at the end of the month – I’m going ahead and predict the bills are higher. History has shown that the more power outages there are Domlec in one month, usually result in higher electricity bills. I could be wrong… or not 🙂
Blackouts, Disasters, Hurricanes, Wind Storms. We’ve all seen the after-effects, entire communities without power. It’s reported that on average 3.5 million people lose their power in the US each week! We bought a generator from MainPowerConnect.com that ensures our family has the power needed when faced with these unexpected outages. With back-up power, our home and business now stays well lighted, secure with our HAVC systems working, keeping us cool. With our generator the sump pumps keep running protecting us against flooding and keeping our food cold and fresh.
Even with an organization that does not make the best strategic management decisions, profitability is important, so do not decry the profit which may appear to be large by Dominican standards… but is in fact relatively small when you consider the cost of capital investments like generation expansion. By the way, profitability does not mean money in the bank. However, any lending institution would also need to see proof that the comapny is doing well and will continue to be financially sound, to qualify for loans. The financing, design and scope of such investments can be complicated and sometimes take years to be rationalized and secured. The core of the issue rests with miscalculations of domlec and perhaps some disregard for the consumer. Obviously it’s a painful situation for the company as well to be load shedding or unable to meet demand, as the company also lose revenue and reputation. The fact is that Domlec has not learned from past mistakes and continues to repeat it, with no relief in sight for the paying public. Yes, many islands in the caribbean has gone through this phase, but none have continued to wallow in such dispair as Domlec. (the cost per unit is another issue). Operating with a hydro and diesel mix can be difficult, but in many respects Domlec is being penny wise and pound foolish in its investments..and spurred on by our tolerant consumers…
@pete
As I said in my post – ONLY DOMINICANS WILL STAND FOR THIS UTTER NONSENSE. But then again Dominicans don’t have choice – Domlec in the sole electricity company in Dominica. 😈 😈
Well, the consumers are paying for many reasons, but its not like they have played dead. Dominicans have voiced their concerns forcefully in the past…resulting in some concessions…In fact the voice of the people ironically forced Domlec to scrap the idea of an (already) financed and engineered new power plant set for Taro in 2001. But you should alos pay attention to some unique history:
In 1980 Domlec was taken over by the govt after CDC handed it over on a platter. CDC was no longer interested in investing in DA
Some years later govt sold part to the public
1997: CDC was invited again and govt sold off majority shares to it, but not before ensuring it put in place legislature to support it (electricity act)
May 2004: WRB Enterprises and Dominica Social Security in a collaborative effort purchased CDC’s shares in DOMLEC
Those different changes affected major plans.To date no major investment has occured with new power plant, aside from stop gap measures with a few high speed generators, with frequent breakdowns.
Its a simple matter of the Dominican people being comprehensively ROBBED by a profit-making enterprise and actively aided by the Government of Dominica. Mr Skerritt thinks that a reduction of fuel taxes will help reduce Dominicans’ massive electricity bills – perhaps he should sell that expensive Mercedes he goes about in and use it to help in the improvement of Dominica – especially its roads. Take the $600 million PROFIT Domlec made and divide it among consumers – this is what it could be if it was not a profit-making business. These outrageous electricity bills are stifling progress in Dominica, and the government is doing nothing about it; for that matter neither are the people…
Richard,
I know the bills are exhorbitant and among the highest in the region. Some of that is due to that, some of that is due to the fuel price (which domlec has no control over) and some of it is due to inefficiency and managemnt choices. By the way, the last profit was not 600 million but only some 6 million, which may sound like alot but really is not much. The company does need to make a profit to survive. Besides Domlec’s lenders, I should also add that the shareholders (including hundreds of Dominicans and social security) also demand profit! Maybe you are also suggesting that the many shareholders should not get dividends as well..So there are lots of issues. Needless to say the government has a role to play and Domlec can make better managment choices. I suppose if government takes the Vat off and reduces duties on fuel that would mean relief to consumers but also less money coming into the treasury..which could mean less money for services Dominicans need. I suppose as well, if Social Secuity and others chose not to have dividends paid to them it could help and savings could possibly go into equipment or lowered prices…but do you necessarily want the social security investments to not yield anything either. I take the point. But hear this: The costs and burdens are high, but the solutions are not without repercussions. The most pressing one would be for Domlec to make the best strategic choices and pay attention to service, improving efficiency and reducing its own costs. Dominicans and any paying consumer deserves better, but lets take in the wider picture too!