Households will be paying 13% more in electricity rates

Family with a consumption of 250 kWh per month will be paying additional ¢1702

Increased recognized expenses for ¢73,000 million for fuel purchases

Households whose electric service is provided by the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) must pay an additional 13% average in the electrical service.

For a family with an average consumption of 250 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month, the adjustment involves an increase of ¢ 1702 on receipt. The current rate is ¢ 21,950 and ¢ 23,652 increase.

The new rates were approved yesterday by the Regulatory Authority of Public Services (Aresep) and shall become effective upon its publication in the Official Gazette.

The increase also covers power generation, which will rise by 14%. Such variation indirectly affect customers all distribution companies and cooperatives that buy electricity to the Institute.

Also, the public lighting service will rise 10.6% and transmission, 13.3%.

Such adjustment was strongly opposed by the Chamber of Industry, who asked to review and correct Aresep demand estimates to artificially affect no user fees.

Fuel expenditure. Tariff fixation recognizes all operating costs and expenses Institute fuels for power generation.

ICE intended to be recognized an expense of ¢ 162,939,000 fuels corresponding to lags of 2011, 2012 and the estimated expenditure for 2013.

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