By Wendy Anders

Yesterday, the Public Services Regulatory Agency (Aresep) announced changes to electricity rates which will be in effect from July through September.

The agency cited a 6.64 percent increase in energy production costs due to the use of fossil fuels to meet the growing energy demand earlier this year, mainly to cover industrial and commercial energy needs.

To meet energy deficits, ICE went above their projected thermal energy spending plans and spent an estimated $14.6 million on fuel for energy production.

Aresep noted lower electricity prices earlier this year and increased economic activity as contributing to the increased consumption.

In the Central Valley, ICE rates will go up 5.49 percent, CNFL by 4.45 percent, Heredia’s ESPH rates by 3.08 percent, and JASEC rates in Cartago will go 2.79 percent.

Rural areas will see the lowest rate increases, with CoopeSantos the only provider lowering their rates (by 1.18 percent). CoopeAlfaro Ruiz in the area of Zarcero will increase by 2.16 percent, CoopeGuanacaste by 1.52 percent, and Coopelesca in the San Carlos region by 0.96 percent.

Last year, EFE reported that the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) on average produced 93 percent of its energy from clean sources; it’s longest run of 100 percent clean production stretched from May 8 – August 9, 2015 for a total of 94 days.

During this period as well as from January  – March of last year, ICE produced electricity from the following sources: 77.6 percent from hydroelectricity, 12.34 percent from geothermal plants, 10.05 percent from wind energy, and 0.01 percent from solar panels. Fuel is burned to supplement when these sources can not provide enough to the grid.

And during surplus production, when hydroelectric reservoirs are over their water capacity, energy is sold to the Central American regional electric grid, which the Aresep said generated $3.6 million in earnings for ICE in 2014. Energy can also be purchased from this grid during slack times, said Aresep’s energy office.