Caribbean, Central America power watch

Dominican Republic power regulator SIE accepted a request from Transcontinental Capital (Seaboard) for an additional provisional interconnection permit for the 150MW Estrella del Mar III combined cycle project.

Under the latest extension, Seaboard now has until July 1 to conduct testing of the natural gas-fired barge-mounted plant on the national grid.

The Siemens-equipped project on the Ozama river in capital Santo Domingo connects to the grid at the Timbeque 1 and 2 substations.

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Puerto Rico’s energy regulator NEPR published the final resolution and order establishing wheeling tariffs.

“Through this resolution and order, the energy bureau [NEPR] continues the process of establishing all of the necessary elements for certain electric service customers in Puerto Rico to elect to receive their electricity supply on a competitive basis from retail electricity suppliers,” the watchdog said.

The resolution, available here, adds: “The wheeling mechanism is intended to drive new investments in cleaner electricity generation in Puerto Rico and provide customers with an economic alternative to traditional electricity supply, while protecting non-participating customers from adverse consequences.”

BNamericas previously reported that the watchdog had released a revised draft of the regulatory proposal. 

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Guatemala’s congress approved a decree to mitigate the impact of the international increase in the price of fuel through a boost in this year’s social electricity rate budget of 90mn quetzales (US$24mn).

The “law to strengthen the social contribution of the electricity rate” will benefit over 173,000 families or more than 750,000 low-income residents who consume 89-100kV/month between this April-December, the legislative body said in a statement.

Previously, the social rate was applied for consumption up to 88kV/month.