Electric rates to increase next week

Photo credit: welovecostarica.com

October 12^th, 2012 – ARESEP, the public utility regulator, approved a new rate hike for all of Costa Rica’s electric utilities, which should go into effect next week.

The rate hike will affect customers throughout the country, though the exact amount of the increase will vary according to the company, according to their spokespeople.  Customers in the central valley who are provided electric service from CNFL will see the largest increase in their bills, with a 5% increase. This means that for example, a household that consumes an average of 258 kwh will have to pay 17,420 colons, as opposed to the 16,000 that was previously paid.

Residents of Cartago will see a 4.2% increase.  This means that a family who consumes approximately the same amount – 258kwh will go from paying 14.646 to 15.260.

Customers of the Heredia Public Service Company (ESPH) will see a minor increase, according to the company. A family that consumes the minimum rate will go from paying 16.037 to 16.313.

Residents in the northern and southern zones, as well as Guanacaste, should see an increase in their rates of slightly less than 3%.

The new rates will go into effect next week, once they have been published in the official government newspaper, La Gaceta.