ARESEP rejects increase of 12% for electricity rates in Cartago

Jasec submitted application based on incomplete and inconsistent data

According Jasec, strong summers, lack of self-investment and negative differentials to apply the methodology og ARESEP justified increase

August 12th,2014

Some 89,000 Carthaginians not have to pay more on your next electric bill because the Regulatory Authority of Public Services (Aresep) rejected the request Jasec 12% increase in electricity tariffs.

That is, a household consuming 200 kWh per month will still pay ¢ 14,600 instead of ¢ 16,000 requested by the Administrative Board of the Municipal Electric Service Carthage (JASEC). That request had been approved on May 16, the residential rate would have risen from 73 ¢ per kilowatt (kWh) to 80 ¢ per kWh.

According to ARESEP, the claim was rejected due to "differences in the figures presented in the rate study regarding the audited financial statements, the lack of allocation of common costs to individual activities carried Jasec and justifications inadequate to assess costs and investments. "

These failures will prevent the regulatory body to perform a comprehensive analysis of costs associated with the provision of the service, by law, are the only ones that can be transferred to the rates paid subscribers analysis.

"We are becoming more rigorous in analysis and information such requirement. Our commitment is that we post rates are those that really need to be duly justified and with sufficient technical support, "said Juan Manuel Quesada, mayor of Energy ARESEP.

Delayed investment. Ante up the brake applied by the regulator, the Jasec indicated that is respectful of the decision, but that the measure can not compensate for the Variable Investment Cost (CVC) and the development is delayed.

According Jasec requested increases were justified by negative differential in the application of the methodology established by CVC ARESEP, reducing own generation veranos- strong reflection of the region's own development and investment.

Given what happened, the Jasec assess whether or not present, a new rate request, according to a press release says that entity.

(Update at 6:55 pm by journalist Hugo Solano position Jasec)

Source: 'La Nación'

ICE postponed to 2018 new geothermal projects in Guanacaste

Project includes two plants that already have funding guaranteed by Congress

Complete work bring clean energy to supply 200,000 homes

August 06th,2014.

Works to raise I Borinquen geothermal project in Cañas Dulces Liberia, Guanacaste, and have the necessary funding and ongoing studies. However, the start of construction would be by 2018.

The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) could not advance the start of the work because the necessary drilling equipment are in use Pailas II, another geothermal province.

Borinquen is a two-phase project, with a capacity of 55 megawatts (MW) each, so that complete, would power about 200,000 homes. Build each project would take about four years, and the high peaks of the works, would be a source of employment for 1,000 people.

To pay for the plants, the International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) granted loans worth $ 958 million to develop both I and II and Borinquen Pailas II.

In early July, the Legislature approved funding to 25 July, from Nicoya, President Luis Guillermo Solis gave "the starting signal" for these clean energy projects.

For now, the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) has already completed the feasibility stage for Borinquen I, which included the drilling of four wells over 2,000 feet deep in the field.

That process was necessary to check that the selected area has geothermal potential.

Now the viability conferred the National Environmental Technical Secretariat (Setena) is pending. No matter when you get that endorsement, the ICE will not start until at Cañas Dulces have completed works Pailas II, because the Institute has only three drilling machines nationwide.

Two Pailas II are used in a production well and one reinjection, while the third is in the Miravalles pioneering project in the canton of Bagaces.

Find new sources of clean energy is one of the ways considered by the Government and ICE to halt the rise in electricity rates, which in 2013 was 30%.

Read more: 'La Nación'

Comptroller points out faults in national energy plan

Claimed lack of coordination and states clear and concrete actions

Ex minister Castro claimed that CGR not detained to allocate funds for savings and efficiency

July 31st,2014

In formulating public policy of energy efficiency, Minae left out six members of the subsector, including the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) and the Costa Rican Oil Refinery (Recope).

Although up the Subsectorial Energy Council, six members were not even requested or reviewed proposals. Then validated guidelines, but did not participate in its formulation.

That's one of the most serious flaws revealed in DFOE-AE-IF-05-2014 report, the Comptroller General of the Republic (CGR). The court examined the reasonableness of state policies to regulate the growth of energy demand and analyzed the extent to comply with the actions planned to achieve a more efficient consumption.

One criticism is that the National Development Plan (2011-2014) only establishes a direct responsibility Minae, which happens to be "very general" and based on "mere dissemination." The other goals fall into the hands of the Transport portfolio or renewable energy generators.

According to the CGR, this text should serve as a guiding framework of the Government's public policy, no design plans, programs and projects.

The VI National Energy Plan (2012-2030) drew red note: no evidence what actions are priorities for improving energy efficiency and does not analyze whether these are viable or what their impact.

What is to be generated between 2020 and 2030 by such actions? That does not define concretely the plan of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (Minae).

According to the report, officials of the previous administration, led by Minister René Castro, not implemented many of the actions contained in the Fourth National Energy Conservation Program (2012-2015): not established agreements to finance purchases of efficient equipment or implement clean energy projects.

Another failure: the National Energy Conservation Commission has not met since 2007.

Read more:'La Nación'

Users of electricity service suffered 7 outages in average during July 2013

Customers of CNFL and Coopelesca were the most affected by outages

July 29th,2014

Users of electric service interruptions faced seven on average during 2013, reported Tuesday the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (Aresep) in a statement.

The data are from the first study of power quality that made the Municipality of Energy and the future made annually.

According ARESEP, seven cuts represent an average annual outage of 5.8 hours.

Coopelesca and Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y ​​Luz (CNFL) distribution whose users are faced as many interruptions in electric service.

Coopelesca subscribers had an average of 17 interruptions per year, which lasted longer. In San Carlos users most affected were those living in Ciudad Quesada, Florence, Water Zarcas, Pital, La Tigra and La Palmera, who fought continuously for 39.9 hours in 2013.

For CNFL users with more cuts reside in La Union, San Rafael and Dulce Nombre de Cartago; and Santa Ana, San Antonio and San Rafael de Escazú, which faced between 29 and 35 hours without electricity in 2013.

Coopeguanacaste users experienced nine outages lasting 7.3 hours (average); ESPH on 8 tracks and 5.2 hours of interruption and disruption Jasec seven and 6.5 hours without electricity.

Below the national average Coopesantos are located (with six interruptions and 4.9 hours without service), Coopealfaro five interruptions and 5.5 hours without service; ICE and users are those who have, on average, only three annual interruptions and 2.8 hours without electricity.

The study by ARESEP also includes the results of the checks voltage networks to ensure optimal operation of electrical equipment.

Read more: 'La Nación'