Electricity rates will decrease from 2% to 6,9% in October

September 26th,2014.

From October power rates have discounts between 2.07% and and 6.9% according to the distribution company.

The Regulatory Authority for Public Services announced this afternoon the appropriate settings after applying the methodology of Variable Cost of Fuels.

This variable recognizes expenses for purchase of oil needed for thermal generation and applies to all distribution companies in the country. If lower fuel, electricity prices low and vice versa.

Users will have a decrease in their electric rates to be applied during the last quarter. According ARESEP, the estimated fuel for the months of October to December 2014 will be spending ¢ 7.487 million.

Most subscribers lowers the experience of the National Power and Light Company (CNFL) who receive a rebate of 6.8% on their bills next month.

However, customers of the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad only receive a low of 3.5%, because this week ARESEP approved an increase to the distributor to recognize the costs of energy imports.

"For ICE subscribers, the cost per kilowatt hour (kWh) for the first 200 kWh, 91 ¢ will go to 88 ¢. For the National Power and Light will lower the price of 75 ¢ to 69 ¢ kWh and the Public Service Company of Heredia ¢ 74 to ¢ 69 per kWh "exemplified ARESEP.

Users of the Public Service Company of Heredia will have a reduction of 5.51%, while those of the Management Board of Electrical Services of Carthage (Jasec) will pay 6.51% less per kWh.

For subscribers Coopelesca be decreased from 2.07%, to the company Coopesantos adjustment is 6.34% and 6.26% Coopeguanacaste pay less.

In a press release ARESEP expressed concern about "the increase in electricity rates in recent years." For this reason, the Authority ensures that already took action to keep prices.

Among them, stimulate imports of electricity, "to replace inefficient thermal generation plants whose marginal cost is higher imported energy." Furthermore, "stimulate exports surplus mean additional revenue to cover the costs of electricity."

Source: 'La Nación'

Icreases of rains abate next rising cost of lights

Instead of perceiving estimated 6% rebate ICE customers pay 2% less

September 26th,2014.

The increased rainfall, characteristic of the last quarter of each year, soften the rise of 3.7% requested by the ICE for electric bills canceling their subscribers.

This is due to the rate increase takes effect on October 1, while adjusting the variable cost of fuel (CVC) which varies quarterly.

More rain means less spending on fuels to generate electricity; these are the variables that are reflected in the CVC. According to estimates and the initial proposal of the Regulatory Authority for Public Services (Aresep), the next adjustment would bring the rate is 6% lower than today.

If that is true, users would receive a rebate of 2.3% (instead of 6%) to be applied to them if ICE had not requested an increase to ARESEP, July 21. That month, the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) and the President, Luis Guillermo Solis pledged to keep rates stable light over the next year and a half.

But days later, the Institute requested a rate increase from 3.7% to 7% distribution and generation, with the excuse of cover-about ¢ 31,000 million-to import power from the regional electricity market.

Although Carlos Obregón, ICE chief executive, insisted that what was sought to ARESEP up but not a rate adjustment, approval of the increase in costs was published yesterday in the Gazette.

Contrary. Tariff adjustment This caused discontent in some sectors, which criticized the inconsistency of ICE with respect to the promise of price stability.

The Chamber of Industry said that the high energy cost is the main item that the sector uncompetitive and that in 19 months, has affected the loss of about 6,000 jobs.

Enrique Egloff, chief of the House, criticized the downgrade for the last quarter is now lower than expected.

Source: La Nación

ICE and CNFL customers will suffer increases this year

August 23rd,2014.

Users of ICE and CNFL suffer an increase in their electricity bills over the coming months, if the pending formalities are met.

The Regulatory Authority for Public Services (Aresep) processes, from July 21, an application for adjustment of 3.7% by ICE. This, despite the fact that the Institute ensure that was not what I asked.

If ARESEP endorse such a request, subscribers of the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) would pay 3.7% more from next October 10.

It also aims to increase prices its subsidiary, the Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y ​​Luz (CNFL). Victor Solis, general manager of the company, said that the application submitted in September, although still not revealed how much your percentage.

The new rates for 520,000 subscribers of the Company enter into force two months after result supported by the regulatory body.

For three years, the CNFL not receive additional income by higher receipts for your customers. The last request-from 9.2% - introduced in 2012, but was rejected for errors or inconsistencies in the data.

The company justified before the Superintendency of Securities (Sugeval) that the rejection rate increases for many years hit their operational needs and investment.

However, ARESEP said that since 2012, the Company has not approached to present tariff studies, under current regulations, must be delivered to you once a year.

In any case, the request CNFL up in September with the excuse that through a financial crisis drowning in rising debts (now totaling ¢ 279,000 million) and June recorded ¢ 7,000 million in losses.

Source: 'La Nación'

'There is no 100% guarantee, no'

In few words.

August 23rd,2014.

The ICE is unable to control certain variables that make up the final tariff. Although you could gamble in calculating ups and downs for the last quarter of this year, how did to calculate the behavior of the climate and the international prices for over 2015?

We are clear; there are many variables. But the technical group ICE has much experience in making probabilistic analysis to determine what are the conditions that may occur in the coming year and how you can handle.

"There is no 100% guarantee, no, but we believe we did the calculations are correct and that we will be able to maintain what we promised."

Are you aware that you are unable to guarantee that? On the other hand, the ICE request flat rates does not necessarily mean ARESEP approval.

Well, there's a difference: we have the best intentions to work because it suits the country. Even this has meant sacrifices ICE: cost adjustments and accept that you will not receive monies already spent immediately. This acceptance allows one to go arranging things, also thinking that the plant enters 2016 Reventazón (...). We have made an analysis considering all possible variables.

"If I said, 'I guarantee that 100%? 'Thus possibly say no, because if not, tell me I'm a liar. "

ARESEP said not dare to promise rate stability just so complex that it is this assertion.

In life there are no absolute certainties. No, no, see, honestly, one in life and in the technical field makes risk calculations, we have always done in the construction (...). I say that with knowledge, with historical research we have done, more than 100 years of precipitation ...

While nobody expected as abnormally dry year.

Yes, of course. And what we have done is to assume that next year will be a dry year with conditions similar to those that occur this year.

If the ICE must resort to even greater costs, will continue, like, asking ARESEP rate 91 ¢ per kWh?

That's what we did; go and talk to ARESEP respecting their methodology. We use it so that, once you determine the value, do not change it, but make such a distribution.

Source: 'La Nación'