CEPM presents its successful energy management model to the president of the Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo, july 25, 2024 – The president of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, visited the CEPM facilities in Bávaro, accompanied by Rolando González Bunster, Chairman & CEO of InterEnergy Group. During this visit, the president gained an in-depth understanding of the successful management model that has established CEPM as a benchmark in the energy sector in Latin America and the Caribbean and as a key supporter of tourism development in this country.

“It is an honor for us to welcome president Luis Abinader and share how we have achieved high efficiency standards in our operations. Our success in energy management not only reflects a level of excellence typical of the most advanced countries but also attracts the attention of international leaders who see our work as a model to follow,” highlighted González Bunster.

Guarantee of quality and reliability in electricity supply

CEPM ranks among the top three electricity distributors in Latin America with less than 500,000 customers, certified by the Regional Energy Integration Commission (CIER, by its acronym in spanish). In 2023, its customers experienced an average of only six outages totaling 4.14 hours, including both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. This is significantly below the 520 hours allowed per year by the Superintendency of Electricity. Additionally, over the past five years, the company has contributed RD$5.416 billion in taxes, representing 11% of the taxes paid by the energy sector in the country.

These indicators reflect the exceptional quality of CEPM’s service, ensuring that customers never have to worry about power outages. While businesses and hotels in other parts of the country must invest in generators to guarantee their power supply, CEPM offers continuous and stable service, allowing customers to focus on their operations without fear of service failures.

Thanks to its innovative Quatro Systems, CEPM is the first and only distributor in the country with 100% of its customers connected to smart meters. This system, developed by dominican talent and nationally and internationally awarded, allows customers to manage their energy consumption in real-time through various channels (CEPM App, WhatsApp, Virtual Office, ATMs, payment locations…), with flexible prepayment and postpayment options. Since its launch in 2014, the system has grown exponentially, currently encompassing more than 63,000 customers, over 72% of whom are prepaid users. Its success has transcended borders, being used in distributors in Costa Rica, Aruba, and Chile serving millions of people, marking a milestone in the regional energy industry.

Driving tourism with reliable and sustainable energy solutions

CEPM has been a pillar in the sustainable development of tourism in the Eastern region, investing over $1.1 billion in infrastructure and technological innovation to provide and guarantee reliable and quality energy service 24/7. Today, it supplies energy to 65% of the hotel offering in the Dominican Republic.

True to its commitment to offering solutions that reduce its customers’ costs, CEPM has developed projects like District Energy, allowing hotels to reduce operational expenses by 30%. This system, benefiting more than 28,000 rooms with advanced thermal technologies, utilizes steam or residual heat from plant chimneys to superheat water, transported through a 14-kilometer network to the tourist hub, where absorption chillers produce cool water, and heat exchangers generate sanitary hot water.

For over 30 years, CEPM has focused on innovative clean energy generation solutions, eliminating thousands of tons of CO2 annually and transforming its concession area into a green tourist destination. Currently, the company has 29 photovoltaic projects in operation and development totaling 262 MWp, 16 of which are with clients from the world’s leading hotel chains.

Through the CEPM Zero initiative, aiming for carbon neutrality in CEPM before 2030, the company will incorporate nearly 800 MW of renewable energy, including wind, solar, pumped hydro, green hydrogen, and storage systems exceeding 230 MW, with an investment of over $1 billion.

CEPM’s successful management model has shown a remarkable ability to solve energy challenges in its concession area, maintaining the highest industry standards. Its focus on innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence positions CEPM as a leader that could transform the country’s energy landscape, offering a path towards a cleaner, more efficient, and reliable future.

President Abinader’s visit concluded at Evergo Connect, the first electric vehicle charging station in the Dominican Republic and Latin America, equipped with 29 fast-charging stations powered exclusively by CEPM’s renewable energy. This innovative project features ultra-fast chargers that can charge a vehicle in just 15-20 minutes, placing the Dominican Republic at the forefront of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the region.