Water rates increase 25 percent next week

An increase in water rates will go into effect next Tuesday, according to the Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP).

The new system for determining residential and commercial rates will bring about an average increase of 25 percent. The increase will show up on the next bill.

This means, for example, that a family that consumes 20 cubic meters per month will see an average increase of some ₡5,000 ($10).

According to ARESEP, the hike is due to the elimination of a subsidy in rates to commercial and industrial users.

The Costa Rican Water and Sewer Institute (AyA) announced Tuesday that it will file an appeal for a revision of the rates as approved by ARESEP, which “should have been higher, especially for business users.”

According to ARESEP leadership, the appeal will not stop the new rates from being published in the official newspaper La Gaceta next Tuesday. This will send the new rates into effect.