Largest geothermal power project in Leon

6 of each 10 CNFL employees earning more than ¢ 1 million

Nearly 400 people earn higher salaries to ¢ 2 million per month

A switchboard Power and Light receives six times more than one of RACSA

July 16th, 2015

Six out of 10 officials of the National Power and Light Company (CNFL) receive a higher salary ¢ 1 million.

Of the nearly 2,200 employees of the metropolitan power distributor, they accrued 1,250 six-digit salaries in May.

The average salary is ¢ 1.3 million in this company, owned by the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE).

A group of almost 400 people earning more than ¢ 2 million per month. Such is the case of one of the 31 phone operators CNFL perceived ¢ 2.6 million, almost nine times the minimum wage for that occupation.

The same applies to a bookbinder who has a salary of ¢ 2.4 million while a welder receives ¢ 1.2 million and building a pawn, just over a ¢ 1 million.

The minimum wage for those three positions in the private sector not exceeding ¢ 320,000, according to the Ministry of Labour.

The highest salaries are officials who hold the headquarters. The highest compensation is ¢ 5.6 million. At least six of them earn more than the maximum chief, general manager, Victor Solis, whose salary is around ¢ 5 million.

In the Company only 200 employees (9%) earn less than ¢ 500,000 monthly. It is 49 ¢ Miscellaneous receiving 428,000, although that position is a person who earns more than ¢ 1.1 million. In the private sector, such personnel do not receive more than ¢ 300,000.

This follows the return of the CNFL reported to the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS), in May 2015. These data were provided to the Nation by the libertarian deputy, Otto Guevara.

Reasons. Jorge Pacheco, interim CEO Power and Light, he said the difference in the salaries of the CNFL, with respect to the private sector, is due to the bonuses that are paid to the state, such as annuities and dedication.

The chief also attributed the situation to the formula that was used for years to calculate annuities in the CNFL. He explained that instead of defining the additional benefits over the base salary, bonuses to gross wages were estimated, which generated a rapid rise in wages.

Pacheco said the payroll reported to CCSS in May may have some inconsistencies, as some employees were paid less because they were disabled or leave without pay.

Others said the manager, were reported more because they are compensated for vacation days that they would not use. Such is the case of an area coordinator, who received ¢ 4.3 million for accrued vacation and ¢ 1.9 million school salary. In the end, I won ¢ 10.9 million in May.

However, Pacheco recognized that wages are high and represent a "significant" cost to the institution which closed 2014 with a deficit of ¢ 6,200 million and needed help ICE to meet its debts. Salaries represent 13% of operating expenses.

Read more: 'La Nación'

7,000 alajuelenses would see rise of 30% on their energy bills

Cooperative justified request to the increase in operating costs and energy purchases to ICE

April 13th,2015

Around 7,000 alajuelenses, subscribers of the Coopealfaroruiz power distributor, would see a 30% increase in their electricity rates in the coming months.

In that case, each kilowatt hour (kWh) would increase from 60 ¢ to 78 ¢. That is; rather than pay ¢ 12,000, a household that consumes 200 kWh per month will disburse ¢ 15,600.

This would be so if the Regulatory Authority for Public Services (Aresep) approved the latest tariff request of the company. In that case, the entity would define a date for the public hearing and the new electricity tariff would enter into force one month after its publication in the Official Gazette.

In its most recent study, the company said that with the rise intended to cover increased operating costs and energy purchases to the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE).

This company provides electric service to 6,796 subscribers in the canton of Alfaro Ruiz, Alajuela: 5,123 are residential, 1,026 are general and 648 industrial. Currently, it sells 0.25% of the total energy generated by the National Electricity System (SEN).

According to ARESEP, Coopealfaroruiz not receive adjustments since February 2012, when he was passed up 0.5%. In 2013, the company requested a new setting of 12.84%, but it was rejected because it was considered that the study lacked data and justification.

Source: "La Nación"

ICE pays miscellaneous and pawns to ¢ 1.4 million

Another 2,000 earn about ¢ 505,000 for that work; in private sector, ¢ 300,000

Otto Guevara and Sandra Piszk want to reform wage calculating bonuses

July 14th,2015

Building a pawn of the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) gained ¢ 1.4 million salary in May, while a miscellaneous ¢ 1.3 million earned in those 31 days.

These are the highest wages in those categories; among the 22,353 people working in that entity. There are also masons charged ¢ 1.6 million and cooks who received ¢ 1.4 million state coffers.

While at the Institute those millionaires wages paid in the private sector, which does not recognize salariales- bonuses paid to a pawn and a miscellaneous ¢ 343,000, ¢ 300,000 (payments four times lower than the highest of the ICE). Bricklayers earn ¢ 353,000 per month and cooks earn ¢ 342,000; almost five times less than their counterparts highest paid in the state enterprise.

The average salary of 1,533 laborers who reported the ICE is ¢ 585,000, while that of the 423 Miscellaneous is ¢ 505,000.

The data comes from the return recorded by the Institute to the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) in May this year. These were provided by the media deputy Otto Guevara, of the Libertarian Movement (ML), with name and identification number of workers each.

According to the legislator, which aims to make public such payments it is to demonstrate that the public sector is full of excesses, abuses and imbalances. He said that Costa Ricans do want awareness and demand less government waste.

The comparison between public and private realities made this medium from total wages, including the variable portion as overtime. In the case of a private company, reference payments are estimates of companies that meet legal obligations.

For the deputy Guevara, some categories of employment in the ICE are overflowing because of the great number of employees.

For example, the records in that entity CCSS 1147 builders; 728 artisans in wood; 400 drivers; 1,524 civil engineers; 200 secretaries and 581 welders.

La Nacion asked a reaction to the leaders of the ICE, but at press time no answer. The unions claim that the facts revealed by Guevara are false.

More gaps. The average salary for a private company winemaker is ¢ 407,000, but if you work in ICE, he could earn up to ¢ 1.2 million through salary bonuses as annuities and dedication.

According to the decree of the Ministry of Labour, warehouse employee must earn a minimum of ¢ 286,000 monthly.

The reality for cashiers is similar: in the Institute may receive up to ¢ 1.5 million, but could only aspire to ¢ 360,000, on average, in a non-state company. For them, the minimum wage decreed no more than ¢ 323,000.

The electricity and telecommunications company only reports five journalists, whose salary is about ¢ 2.3 million. In a private media, they would be paid just over the legal minimum: about ¢ 820,000.

In the ICE, 200 secretaries earn, on average, ¢ 691,000 and ¢ earn better wages 1.7 million. For this job category, the minimum wage is ¢ 323,000.

On the payroll of the Institute also include a potter, two floral arrangers seven craftsmen in leather, glass engraver, three technicians in artistic drawing, a literary author, an arbitrator five curators.

Read more: 'La Nación'

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"