ICE will invest ₡23.1 billion to bring electricity for the first time to 2,670 homes

This ICE release was published using machine translation.

The Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) will invest ₡23.1 billion over the next four years to bring electricity service for the first time to 2,670 homes in its coverage area, which covers cantons in the seven provinces. The project will benefit 238 communities, both in urban and rural sectors.

Our country has one of the highest electricity coverage on the continent –99.38% of the population. Homes without grid power are located in diverse sectors, such as indigenous territories, regions of very low population density in coastal provinces or even districts of the Greater Metropolitan Area.

The investment involves the construction of 402 kilometers of lines and related infrastructure to guarantee the service (see box). ICE seeks methodologies and alliances – together with other interested institutions – to achieve 100% coverage, a goal that no Latin American country has achieved to date.

The project will reach cantons such as Turrubares, Pérez Zeledón, Upala, Los Chiles, Jiménez, Turrialba, Sarapiquí, Liberia, Nandayure, La Cruz, Puntarenas, Buenos Aires, Golfito, Limón, Pococí and Talamanca. Seven other electricity distributors operate in Costa Rica, responsible for providing access in their concession areas.

“The principle of solidarity present in Law 449 creating ICE allowed us to achieve coverage greater than 99% for many years. Therefore, it is an obligation for the Institute to ensure that all Costa Ricans enjoy sustainable, safe and quality electricity,” said Marco Acuña, president of Grupo ICE.

According to the Electricity Coverage Index, prepared by ICE, as of September of last year, in Costa Rica it is estimated that 10,127 occupied homes do not have electricity. During 2023, the Institute invested ₡300 million in bringing the service to communities such as La Riviera de Coto, Rey Curré and Isla Venado.

Electrification project 2024-2027

Province Saint Joseph Alajuela Carthage Heredia Guanacaste Puntarenas Lemon Total

Zones 24 53 24 9 8 71 49 238

km 32 55 39 7 12 187 70 402

Homes 190 433 231 68 68 1,155 525 2,670

Investment ₡1,836,370,420 ₡3,149,869,412 ₡2,236,855,458 ₡406,230,878 ₡673,412,431 ₡10,757,361,390 ₡4,039,900,007 ₡23,100,000,000