No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsBusinessApril kicks off with more talk of utilities rate hikes

April kicks off with more talk of utilities rate hikes

The start of the month of April on Tuesday will bring with it an increase in electricity rates recently approved by the Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP). The agency on Monday also said they are reviewing requests for more hikes on the per-liter price of fuel.

On March 21, ARESEP approved hikes in electricity rates ranging from 6.87-9.81 percent due to an increase in thermal generation. Electricity production at hydroelectric plants has decreased significantly due to severe weather conditions that have produced less-than-average precipitation during the rainy season and have caused an increase in fuel consumption at thermal generation plants.

As of Tuesday, April 1, customers of the Costa Rican Electricity Institute will pay 6.87 percent more on their monthly bill; a bill for a family with a monthly consumption of 250 kWh, for example, will increase from ₡23,500 to ₡25,200 ($44-$47).

ARESEP also is evaluating two hike requests in the per-liter price of fuel. The first one is an ordinary price adjustment requested by the National Oil Refinery (RECOPE) that ranges from ₡11-₡45. The refinery has asked for the increase to compensate for administrative expenses and investments.

RECOPE also has filed an additional request to raise fuel prices due to a variation of international oil prices. If approved, per-liter prices would increase by ₡29 for Super gasoline, ₡21 for Plus gasoline and ₡9 for diesel.

RECOPE will announce on its website dates and locations for upcoming public hearings, where citizens opposed to the increases can argue their case.

Trending Now

Costa Rican Court Orders Release of Migrants Deported Under Trump Deal

A court on Tuesday ordered Costa Rican authorities to release foreign migrants who had been detained in a shelter after being deported under an...

Costa Rica Surf Film Festival Honors ‘Pura Vida Bodysurfing’ with Top Audience Award

Pura Vida Bodysurfing is an award-winning short film that strips surfing back to its essence—riding waves without a surfboard. Filmed across Costa Rica’s legendary...

El Salvador Slams Paris Fashion Show Inspired by Cecot Mega-Prison Inmates

The president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, joked on Saturday that he could send inmates from his mega-prison to France, after they were represented...

Costa Rica’s Pride 2025 Closing Event Bans Minors, Sparks Outrage

Costa Rica’s Pride 2025 closing event, set for June 29 at San José’s Plaza de la Democracia, was thrown into controversy when the government...

Costa Rica Joins U.S. Global Entry, Easing Travel for Tourists

Costa Rica took a big step forward, by officially joining the U.S. Global Entry program, a move set to make travel smoother for Costa...

Costa Rica’s Cutris Mining Bill Threatens Massive Environmental Damage

Costa Rica’s government is pushing a controversial bill that could open the entire Cutris district in San Carlos—848 square kilometers—to open-pit gold mining. The...
L. Arias
L. Arias
Reporter | The Tico Times |
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica