Icreases of rains abate next rising cost of lights

Instead of perceiving estimated 6% rebate ICE customers pay 2% less

September 26th,2014.

The increased rainfall, characteristic of the last quarter of each year, soften the rise of 3.7% requested by the ICE for electric bills canceling their subscribers.

This is due to the rate increase takes effect on October 1, while adjusting the variable cost of fuel (CVC) which varies quarterly.

More rain means less spending on fuels to generate electricity; these are the variables that are reflected in the CVC. According to estimates and the initial proposal of the Regulatory Authority for Public Services (Aresep), the next adjustment would bring the rate is 6% lower than today.

If that is true, users would receive a rebate of 2.3% (instead of 6%) to be applied to them if ICE had not requested an increase to ARESEP, July 21. That month, the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) and the President, Luis Guillermo Solis pledged to keep rates stable light over the next year and a half.

But days later, the Institute requested a rate increase from 3.7% to 7% distribution and generation, with the excuse of cover-about ¢ 31,000 million-to import power from the regional electricity market.

Although Carlos Obregón, ICE chief executive, insisted that what was sought to ARESEP up but not a rate adjustment, approval of the increase in costs was published yesterday in the Gazette.

Contrary. Tariff adjustment This caused discontent in some sectors, which criticized the inconsistency of ICE with respect to the promise of price stability.

The Chamber of Industry said that the high energy cost is the main item that the sector uncompetitive and that in 19 months, has affected the loss of about 6,000 jobs.

Enrique Egloff, chief of the House, criticized the downgrade for the last quarter is now lower than expected.

Source: La Nación