High cost of thermal generation forces ICE to import more electricity

ICE will buy $80 million this year in electricity for the region, 5 times more than 2013

ARESEP expected rates be a 5.5% lower this year, thanks to action

May 12th, 2014.

ICE said it will buy "full energy" to the Regional Electricity Market (MER) to reduce their use of costly and inefficient thermal plants, which today kilowatt costs more than twice as imported.

In fact, before the rain deficit expected by the arrival of El Niño, the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) will invest $ 80 million this year to acquire power; ie five times more than in 2013.

"We will import more; maximum energy possible to find cheaper than ours in the region "said Salvador Lopez, director of Energy and ICE country representative to the Electric Interconnection System for Central America (Siepac).

The kilowatt generated by these facilities, including the Moin, is up to ten times more expensive than that produced by Garabito, the country's most efficient thermal plant.

"We will not use our most expensive plants only because they are ours. If we can get cheaper power in the region, because we prefer that, "said Lopez.

Last March, ICE January imports tripled and doubled February. In that quarter, buying abroad was 116 gigawatts (GWh), which involved an investment of $ 36.3 million.

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