Central America power roundup: Solar concession, regulatory sandbox, IMF callout

Costa Rica’s public services regulator Aresep will hold a public hearing on January 10 to review a public service concession request submitted by Empresa Inversiones CMSOLEN.

CMSOLEN was a winner in state power company ICE’s call for a block of 370MW with the 20MW Las Cañas photovoltaic project.

Information for the online meeting is available here.

Read New solar projects for 86 megawatts are finalized

Regulatory sandbox

Belize’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is accepting comments through January 3 on Belize Electricity’s (BEL) report: “Implementation of the Regulatory Sandbox for Demand Charge Rate in Belize.”

“The regulatory sandbox… allows BEL to test and evaluate how demand-based pricing can optimize energy consumption patterns, encourage renewable energy integration, ensure appropriate cost recovery for grid services, and enhance grid stability through a rate structure that includes a demand charge, peak and off-peak energy charges, and a feed-in tariff (FIT) for distributed generation,” highlights the report.

PUC’s consultation notice is available here.

IMF report

“Significant challenges in the energy sector remain a key vulnerability,” according to the IMF's latest country report for Honduras.

“Relatively high tariffs result from a history of uncompetitive contracting of generation capacity and inefficiencies, hurting competitiveness and consumers. Moreover, outdated infrastructure and incidence of fraud have driven high electricity losses, which, together with operational inefficiencies, have long saddled [state power company] Enee with financial losses,” the assessment reads.

The IMF highlights, however, that authorities have pledged to continue reforms to improve Enee’s financials and operations.