In the Belly of the Beast

Union Fenosa...the Beast.

This pseudo government entity--half private enterprise, half government--is the sole provider of power in Panama. 

We have received NO information, reliable or fairy tale, about the time required to install electricity to our house.  So I decided to take matters into my own hands. 

Never a good idea.

My landlord has been building in Boquete for 9 years and offered to take me to the beast to try and get some straight answers.  Stop laughing.  It's not funny.  At least I am trying.

As you enter the building, a small area is occupied by a lone gate keeper.  The doors is electronically locked to the rest of the building.  Clearly, they have had their share of irate people who have tried to storm the premises and gone Postal.  

You must have a name and an iron clad reason to request entry.  A phone call and verification is performed.  We wait.

Soon, the triple lock system is release and we are escorted back to the woman we are seeing.  There is no way I could have gotten into this building without my landlord.  This is a well guarded place.

This woman is another of those helpful Panamanians who really wants to provide something.  She gives us information that is totally confusing.  Finally, we are escorted to another area.

This gentlemen, not quite as nice but helpful, examines the documents that I have.  He frowns and shakes his head.  Mutters and twitches.

Soon the first lady returns, and a lengthy discuss enfolds, all in Spanish, so I get a loose translation of what is going on.

As it turns out, the process for getting electricity is a torturous one.  Miraculously, my plans are in order and the next step can be accomplished, but what a next step!

Now all I need to GET THE PROCESS STARTED...not accomplished, not moving, certainly not completed...just started, is:

Fully complete ALL the electric in the house,

Get an inspection by the fire chief.

Get my attorney to write a letter saying I am authorized to do this,

Copies of my passport, her passport, the corp documents and tax ID's,

Two copies of all plans,

Submit all this to another person in another building...

Whew!  And then, they will CONSIDER starting the process to install the electricity to my house.  No one is even venturing a time line after the process is started.

But, they are not doing any installations now because they have NO poles and wire.  That's right, they are completely out of all necessary materials.  And, they are seriously backed up on new installations.  What are they doing then?  I don't know.  I dare not ask.

But, not to worry, the material should be here soon.

Ya, right.

I'm not sure if I was better off not knowing any of this.  

I have been in the belly of beast.  Don't go.  It's not pretty.