Bus Operators and Power Utilities In Line For Increases
Lines for services in Costa Rica are common. And now several utility companies and bus operators are making line at the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (Aresep) - regulator of prices and services - for increases.

Transportes Costarricenses Panameños S.A. (Tracopa) which runs regular service between San José and the southern zone is asking for 28.84% increase in its fares. If approved, the cost of a bus ride from San José to Paso Canos (border with Panama) will increase from ¢4.490 to ¢5.785 colones.

Trancesa, which operates urban buses from downtown San José to La Sabana, via the cementerio, is looking for a fare hike of ¢15 colones, taking the current fare of ¢120 colones to ¢135 colones. Autotransportes Hermanos Navarro, in San Vito de Coto Brus in the southern zone, is also in line for a fare increase.

The Aresep is also looking at a request by the Empresa de Servicios Públicos de Heredia (ESPH) - Heredia power utility - for an increase of 13% on residential rates and 10% on industrial rates.

As well the Cooperativa de Electrificación Rural de San Carlos (Coopelesca) has formed the line asking for an increase of 28.29% for its residential and commercial services for 2007 and 7.7% for 208.

The Aresep will be holding public hearings before making a decision on the applications. The hearings for the Tracope increase is on May 30th at 7pm, while the hearing for the Transeca is on June 5th.

The hearing for the ESPH increase in June 11 at 5pm at the Cámara de Industria y Comercio de Heredia and the Coopelesa hearing on June 29the at 5tpm at the Edificio Urcozón, San Carlos, according to the Aresep.