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Aresep Staying Firm on Decision
The Autoridad Reguladora de los
Servicios Públicos (Aresep) says
it is firm in its
decision to approve an
increase in electrical service
rates as requested by the
Instituto Costarricense de
Electricidad (ICE), even though
the country is being submitted
to an indefinite power rationing
plan by the state power
institution.
The Regulador General, Fernando
Herrero, said he is staying firm
on the decision and that ICE is
able to provide the
documentation the regulator is
asking for before it will
approve any increases.
The Arespe is asking ICE to
provide a study on its needs and
will not approve any rate
increase unless the state
institution can satisfy the
regulator that it requires an
increase.
Herrero added that the ICE has
to also explain, in detail, what
caused the blackout of last
week.
"These are small fights, a
normal exercise within
institutions, however we are
making an opening for opinion.
What is missing a group of
technicians from both
institutions to sit down and
talk", said Herrero.
The Unión Costarricense de
Cámaras y Asociaciones del
Sector Empresarial Privado (Ucaaep)
has given its support behind the
Aresep decision.
In a press statement, the Ucaeep
said they reject the statements
by ICE authorities that the
country could be subject to new
power rationing if it doesn't
get a rate increase soon. "The
power failures of past and any
in the future are a product of
the institution not taking the
necessary measures to ensure the
flow of electricity, just as it
has been said by a group of ICE
workers, technicians,
administrators and professionals
in the power sector in April of
2005", said the the statement.
Geovanni Bonilla, a spokesperson
for ICE, said yesterday that the
institution has presented a
"rejection" against Herrero,
considering that the regulator
did not act properly in denying
the increase and that the ICE
legal department reviewing the
Aresep decision has not found
any technical recommendation or
resolution to base its decision
on.
Herrero, however, assures that
the he has acted within the
legal framework and it is an
important decision for the
country. Herrero closed his
remarks by saying "ICE can
appeal the decision".
The Aresep now has two months to
respond to the ICE rejection.
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A reader writes:
"So it sounds like ICE holding
the country hostage if it
doesn't get its
rate increase fro
electricity, even though it has
a fat reserve of colons (sic) in
the vault. I think the top guys
at ICE are as crooked as most of
the legislators in this country.
Lining their pockets with the
money of hard working Ticos that
are barely making ends meet. I
give credit to the Aresep for
trying to stop this robbery in
progress, but this time I think
the robbers will prevail!"
Daniel Garrett |
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