Aresep approves reductions in electricity rates

Reductions will have effect between April and June

March 19th,2015

The Regulatory Authority for Public Services approved a reduction of between 7% and 15% in electricity rates that will govern from the second quarter of this year.

Such adjustment is due to a decrease in rates of generation, whose prices are lower than those of 2013 and 2014.

The reduction in the case of subscribers Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) is 11.7%, for the National Power and Light is 13.3%, in the Administrative Board of Cartago Electrical Services (Jasec) will be 14.02% and the Public Service Company of Heredia have a discount of 15.08%.

For Coopelesca that services in the north, the rebate is 7.91% for customers Coopeguanacaste the dismunción be 12.87% in cooperative Coopesantos rates falling 9.09% while in Coopealfaro Ruiz, the reduction is 13.29%.

As an example, ARESEP mentioned that in the case of ICE subscribers with an average consumption of 300 kWh per month would pay ¢ ¢ 35,200 to 31,800, ie 3.400 ¢ less.

According ARESEP, the downgrade reflects the thermal generation was almost nil in previous months and the reduction in the prices of fuels used to generate. The price of fuels based on the last rate-setting which came into effect on March 9 was used on this occasion.

Source: "La Nación"

Electricity rates will decrease in April between 8% and 15%

March 04th,2015.

The mayor of Energy ARESEP, Juan Manuel Quesada, suggested this morning that electricity rates down between 8% and 15% (variable according Utility) from April 1 until the last day of June.

Under the proposal, ICE would subscribers discounts of 12%; the Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y ​​Luz (CNFL) of 13.6% and the Public Service Company of Heredia (ESPH) of 15%.

Jasec customers feel a reduction of 14%; those of Coopelesca, 8%; the Coopeguanacaste, 13%, those of Coopesantos, 9%, while those of Coopealfaro Ruiz see a decrease of 14%.

These rebates are therefore given, as calculated by ARESEP, tariffs power generation Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) will decrease by 20%.

As of April 1 the setting that matches the Variable Cost of Fuel (CVC), which will remain for the next three months is automatically applied.

To calculate this, the Regulatory Authority for Public Services (Aresep) takes into account fuel expenses incurred by the ICE during the previous quarter, to generate thermal energy.

"We've been having in November, December and January favorable climatic conditions: there have been more and better winds and rain that has caused an increase in the generation of renewable energy," Quesada said.

The mayor explained that no fossil fuels used to generate electricity, which significantly reduces costs.

In the reference period generating the edge of the water (December, January and February) increased by 55% and wind power doubled over the same period last year.

Source:"La Nación"

Advocacy: ICE overstates costs by asking rate adjustment

January 19th,2015

The Advocacy said this afternoon against the tariff rebalancing who asked ICE to ARESEP, considering that the Institute exaggerated the cost structure when calculating the adjustment.

Late last year, ICE has asked the Regulatory Authority for Public Services (Aresep) increased 13.2%, in recognition of a rise in energy purchases from private generators and the regional electricity market. This adjustment is being processed by the regulator.

According to the defense body, the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) granted the request based on the first half of 2014 and did not take into account the second, in which the economic situation varied completely. This refers mainly to the sustained decline in the international price of oil.

"The current proposal of ICE overstates the growth of the cost structure of 2014 and for the years 2015 and 2016, with consequent injury to the end user of energy," said the Ombudsman through a press release.

He added that in the setting approved as it stands, rises "disproportionate and unjustified" in relation to the expected economic situation for 2015 would be generated.

The Advocay also called the Institute underspending of a high percentage of investments authorized by ARESEP in 2010-2013 resources. This is another reason why, according to the body, should rechazársele the claim.

Carolina Mora, ARESEP spokeswoman, said the claim of the Ombudsman will be taken into account in the process of public hearing, which took place today. The results will be presented to the public in about a month.

"The hearing process is precisely for these arguments;. Each will be analyzed and even within a month will determine whether the setting is appropriate or not must review and study all the papers," said Mora.

ICE defends. Francisco Garro, director of ICE Financial Planning, said that the Ombudsman mixes concepts, categories and percentages should not be added because they correspond to different services and systems.

"The request of the Ombudsman to reject the application ARESEP reflecting all is ignorance that has that institution on tariff components," said Garro.

The alleged under-execution of budget, Randall Retana, head of the Corporate Division of Strategy and Business Development ICE Group, said:. "We exceeded almost all the goals outlined in the National Development Plan in generation, distribution and transmission This represented a enormous technical and budgetary challenges that led to the development of large investments. "

When the application for adjustment of 13.2%, Carlos Obregon, president of the Institute, said that this will be offset by an equivalent percentage decrease in the Variable Cost of Fuel (CVC) due to reduced fuel purchases during 2015. That is why, he said, approval would not affect current rates paid by users.

Maintain stable electricity rates was the promise made Obregon hand with President Luis Guillermo Solis, from the beginning of his term last year.

Editor's Note: This information was modified at 6 pm

Source: "La Nación"

Electricity increased 6% for 520,000 subscribers of CNFL

January 15th,2015

The monthly electricity bill will rise 6.7% to about 520,000 subscribers of the National Power and Light Company (CNFL).

With this, an average family consumes 250 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month will pay ¢ 1,100 additional: your receipt will rise from ¢ 18,250 to ¢ 19,350.

The increase was approved by the Regulatory Authority for Public Services (Aresep) and will come into effect after publication in the Official Gazette this week.

Although an increase was endorsed, this was not as significant as that requested by the Company on October 10.

The company asked by 12.37%, with the justification that they should recognize the energy that will buy the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) during 2015, besides the lag in the Variable Cost of Fuel (CVC).

It also requested an additional 6.21% for "own resources" and a fee for service reconnection (would have spent ¢ 550 to ¢ 5,931).

The regulatory body recognized him only 6.67% for energy purchases for distribution: about ¢ 252,000 million.

The rest was rejected for alleged omissions and errors in the tariff analysis, which prevent ARESEP check and have backed internal costs.

"There are gaps and contradictions; no remuneration, costs for service centers, the investment plan ... are justified, "said Carolina Mora, spokeswoman ARESEP.

Such deficiencies ARESEP forced to ask the entity additional information and greater precision in future pricing requests.

The Company said yesterday that it had not yet received the official statement ARESEP, so it would not refer to the topic.

Last year, the CNFL revealed that passes through a severe financial crisis. Continue as is, expects to close the next four years in the red. Its deficit would rise from ¢ 12,300 million (in 2014), to ¢ 36,000 million in 2018.

Source: 'La Nación'