Published on Wednesday, April 15, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The rural community of La Trocha in Alajuela province has been connected to the national power grid for the first time, the Rural Development Institute (INDER) announced.

Electricity now reaches 30 homes in the town, located in the Venado district of San Carlos canton, through the Public Electricity in Rural Zones Program (PER).

The project included the installation of 1.7 miles of electrical wiring, 15 concrete poles and two transformers.

 

The total investment was approximately $290,000. INDER contributed $233,000, while the state-owned Electricity Institute (ICE) covered the remaining costs.

Access to electricity is expected to improve residents’ quality of life by providing reliable lighting and enabling the use of household appliances. Authorities said farmers will also benefit from new technologies, such as electric fencing to protect livestock and refrigeration systems to preserve agricultural products, improving both animal safety and crop quality.

According to the Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP), Costa Rica’s national grid now supplies electricity to 99% of the country.

The La Trocha connection is part of a broader national effort to modernize infrastructure in rural and coastal areas. Similar projects have recently been completed in Puntarenas province.

ICE is the state-owned agency that manages the country’s electricity and telecommunications systems.

INDER oversees rural infrastructure development across Costa Rica.

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