ICE Continues Threat of
Blackouts If It Doesn't
Get Increase
The director of energy
demand for the Instituto
Costarrince de
Electricidad (ICE),
Francisco Garro,
explained that the
threat of blackouts
continue for 2009
following an increase of
only 9.4% in electrical
energy rates. ICE has
requested a 36%
increase.
The 9.4% increase went
into effect on all
consumer bills beginning
November 14.
Garro said that if ICE
does not have the
financial resources it
needs to maintain the
continuous flow of
electrical energy, it
will be forced to set in
a motion a program of
planned blackouts during
the summer months (dry
season).
The Autoridad Reguladora
de los Servicios
Públicos (Aresep) will
be holding public
hearings next Thursday
on ICE's 36% request.
If the increase is
approved what it means
to the pocket books of
consumers an additional
¢3.000 colones per month
on the consumption of
200 Kilowatt hours of
electrical energy.
According to Garro, the
9.6% increase was to
compensate ICE for the
¢50 billion colones in
extra expenses to
purchase fuel to run the
thermal generating
plants. |
