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 The demand for electricity in Costa Rica decreased 3% in 2020. - Photo for illustration purposes only - |
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Published on Tuesday, August 10,
2021
As a consequence of the restrictive measures to control the expansion of covid-19, such as the reduction of commercial activities, the use of electricity has decreased, announced the Electricity Institute (ICE). According to ICE, the demand for electricity in Costa Rica decreased 3% in 2020, while in Central America, according to the Regional Operator Entity (EOR), the figure fell 4.4%. Even in the first weeks of the pandemic, between March and April 2020, when restrictive measures were decreed in the isthmus the sales in the Regional Electricity Market (MER) fell 19% and prices fell even more to 45%. The national electricity demand has been increasing since 2009. However, as of that year, due to the global economic crisis of a consolidation in production activities, the use of electricity dropped about 2% in the country. Despite the measures in place to contain the spread of the virus in 2021, it is still difficult to establish when a recovery in electricity demand similar to that existing before the pandemic will be achieved. The simulation models used by the institute in previous years cannot yet show a clear picture of the incoming years' use of electricity services. "Under these conditions, as a country, we have the strength of having enough installed capacity to supply ourselves, with the added value that we generate renewable electricity," Kenneth Lobo, representative of the institute said. However, according to Lobo, the accumulated demand for 2021, from January to June, shows a growth of 2.2% compared to the same period in 2020, which could be a sign of the beginning of the recovery of the demand for the use of electric power. The decrease in electrical energy is also replicated in other regions of the world, so the recovery of this sector will come gradually, the institute said in its statement. Specialists expect that the reactivation of the post-pandemic economy could help in the recovery of the electric power sector. ------------- Should the authorities design a plan to generate energy with green technology? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com             
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