The Costa Rican Association of Large Energy Consumers (ACOGRACE) stated that electricity fares should be reduced from 13% to 22% and it strongly opposed the increase requested by the Costa Rican Institute of Electricity (ICE).
The Regulatory Authority of Public Services (ARESEP) received the request for an increase in the electricity distribution due to the ICE’s additional expense for energy imports in 2016, which were higher than what it was estimated. According to ACOGRACE, the intended quantity was around 2 billion colones, however, the amount spent was 12 billion colones, approximately.
However, ACOGRACE indicates that there was an increase in electricity demand, causing more imports and more profits.
According to Carlos Roldán, ACOGRACE director, additional sales accounted for 25 billion for the company. Similarly, he points out that they saved around 12 billion colones by reducing purchases from private generators.
Nevertheless Luis Pacheco, ICE manager, said that the company aims to keep a balance and he confirmed that there is an increase in sales that should be analyzed by ARESEP for the next fare adjustment.