The Jimenez family Rosales no longer have to go to a neighboring power plant to charge the cell phone
ICE (Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad) has installed solar power cells on homes in Fila Negra, Buenos Aires and Turrubares. The service comes at a cost of ¢1,000 ($2) per month to poor families in the region. Some report the effectiveness of solar power is limited due to frequent rain and cloud cover.
According to the last census there are 1,254 homes in this area, of which 123 lack electricity. Actual numbers of those without electricity are higher because many only use power when they can afford it.