Electricity Tips - Haiti Observer Blog

The public utility company in Haiti, Electricite d'Haiti (EDH) is largely owned by the Haitian government. It is also a symbol of Government inefficiency in providing needed services for its people.

In Haiti, only 12.5% of the population has access to electricity, officially. This however does not explain the real story. Irregular connection or to put it more direct, "stolen Electricity" accounts for more than 25% of the public consumption of electricity in the country.

Electricite d'Haïti (EDH) estimates that about 35% of distributed power is not being paid for by the public. Many residents in poor neighborhoods who can't afford the high cost charged by the company resort to stealing electricity. That is possible because the government is unable to enforce the laws, preventing people from stealing electricity.

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Haiti and the Dominican Republic have teamed up to improve both of the countries' power sectors. Haiti Energy Security Minister Rene Jean-Jumeau and Dominican Republic National Energy Commission Director Enrique Ramirez recently signed an agreement linking the two countries' power grid. Under the agreement, both parties will create a plan on how to boost the production of energy and lower the price of electricity to benefit the public.

The agreement is expected to help both Haiti and Dominican Republic to ensure energy security and deal with problems that may arise. If one faces a challenge in its energy security, the other would be there to help out. However, there are no specific details yet. Jumeau said an actual agreement will be made based on the countries' technical capabilities, access to funds and their social and commercial relations. The current agreement only touches on bilateral projects and relations with international organizations.

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The Electricity of Haiti (ED'H) is bothered by its expensive purchase of electricity from three private providers. According to reports, the public electric company has spent $440 million over the last five years in buying electricity from E-Power, Haytrac and Sogener. Up to $12 million is being shelled out each month to pay for 88 megawatts of electricity from the private providers. ED'H Director General Apollo Andress said it has been heavy to the company's pockets as it only receives around $5 million in monthly gross revenues. These high expenses forced the company to cut down on improving its infrastructure in order to meet its payment obligations, as well as led to a tax burden.

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Storms not only can cause flooding but can also cut off electricity and down power lines. When this happens, it can be very dangerous for people as they can be electrified and injured. This is the reason why it is necessary for anyone to know what to do when there are downed power lines, especially during a storm or any other disasters.

It is best to consider any down power lines dangerous and energized. The best thing to do when you encounter a downed power line is to get away from it. Make sure that you have at least 10 feet of space between you and the power line, as electricity can be transmitted through the ground.

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