Jessenia Calderón, president of the Costa Rican Water and Sewer Institute (AyA), announced Monday that AyA is seeking a water rate hike from the Public Services Regulatory Authority, a government agency that sets public utility rates.
If the increase is approved, a family consuming an average of 15 cubic meters per month of water would pay ₡4,517 ($8.75) instead of the current average monthly cost of₡3,928 ($7.50).
AyA statistics show that more than 50 percent of users consume an average of 15 cubic meters of water per month.
The biggest rate hike will affect users who consume more than 16 cubic meters of water per month, as AyA eliminated subsidies for consumers in that usage range. AyA sets subsidies so that families who use less have more affordable rates.
