The cooperatives affiliated to the Chamber of Energy Distribution and Telecommunications Companies (Cedet) will increase electricity rates by 4% to families that are exempt from VAT, that is, those that consume less than 280 kw/h.
About 73% of the families with the lowest incomes would suffer this surcharge , which would be charged after the VAT is in force.
Some the companies that would raise their rates are: CONELECTRICAS RL, COOPEGUANACASTE RL, COOPESANTOS RL, COOPEALFARORUIZ RL and COOPELESCA RL, the Public Services Company of Heredia (ESPH) and the Junta de Servicios Eléctricos de Cartago (JASEC).
The increase is due to the fact that the suppliers of the service must pay 13% of the VAT to the Treasury for all their electricity purchases every month, without returning the ex-ned proportion of the same 13% of the VAT to the households with consumption lower than 280 kWh.
Therefore, the providers must absorb this charge in their finances and this translates into an increase in the rates for all users, including those exonerated.
Cedet asked the Treasury to create a mechanism in the Value Added Tax Regulation that would allow that part of the VAT is returned by a monthly procedure that would mitigate the financial imbalance and thus prevent it from becoming larger. However, the Treasury did not consider it and said decision would oblige the distributors to ask Aresep for an increase in the rates to cover that shortfall,”
said Allan Benavides, president of the Chamber.