Ready For A Return To Candlelight? ICE Asks
Populace
That is the question being posed by the
Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad
(ICE) in its fight to put the brakes on a
possible reduction in electrical rates.
The state institution is using the scare
tactic to pressure a move against a possible
reduction of 12% in electrical rates, saying
that any reduction would leave the
institution without the financial resources
to meet the power demands of the country.
This is not the first time ICE has used
scare tactics, as we all remember the
blackouts of 2007, when the state energey
provided announced a series of rotating
power blackouts that affected all areas of
the country.
It is not clear if the 2007 blackouts were
really due to problems in the production of
energy or simply the actions akin to a
spoiled child throwing a temper tantrum.
Elbert Durán, an ICE spokesperson, explained
that the "candle" reference is to make the
point that any drop in ICE revenues from
reduction in rates would mean a lower
investment in infrastructure and the
institution's ability to move forward in
several projects that would guarantee the
power needs of the future.
"We have taken preventive action to
guarantee the people that there would be no
more 'apagones' (blackouts", said Durán.
The ICE officials added that for many years
ICE ran in the red, but now (with the
current rates) the institution can continue
to invest in the country's future energy
needs.
The reduction in electrical rates is being
spearheaded by the Cámara de Industrias,
which comes before the Autoridad Reguladora
de los Servicios Públicos (Aresep) -
government regulator of public prices and
services - on August 24 for consideration.
The Cámara, in its petition, argues that ICE
received approval in its rate hike at the
beginning of the year to spend ¢98 billion
colones for the purchase of bunker and
diesel fuels, however, in reality the
institution needs ¢42 billion and as such
electrical rates should be reduced.
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