Electricity rates could rise to 16% in July

June 13th,2014

An increase of up to 16% in electricity rates could impact the pocket of Costa Rican households from July.

This, if the latest proposal from the Regulatory Authority for Public Services (Aresep) for the third quarter of the year, which seeks to counter the crisis caused by the lack of rain is approved. The request is in the public consultation process.

The amount of the increase would vary by dealer. It would be 16% for customers of the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) and 15% for the National Power and Light Company (CNFL). Users of the Administrative Board of Carthage Utility (Jasec) and Public Service Company of Heredia (ESPH) would pay 12% more.

A family receiving the service of ICE and consumes 200 kilowatt hours (kWh) today paid ¢ 17,400 electric bill. If passed fit, should disburse ¢ 20,184 for the same consumption.

To do the math, ARESEP included spending fuels for generation, the difference between actual income and expenditure estimates for the first quarter (¢ 45.6 million) and the tariff lag of 2012, totaling ¢ 11,000 million.

The mayor of Energy ARESEP, Juan Manuel Quesada, said the lack of rain will increase thermal generation between July and September: 128 gigawatt hours will be generated, leading to a cost of ¢ 11,642,000.

During the first quarter, the decline in hydropower production was more drastic than that recorded in the same period of the last nine years. This proposal is given just as the government examines how lower rates.

Source:La Nación.