During the next few weeks, residents in Costa Rica will see a 5-8.5% increase in their electricity bills thanks to a rate increase approved yesterday by the Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP).

The amount of the increase depends on each user's electricity provider. For example, those who receive power from the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) will pay 7.92% more while those who receive it from the National Power and Light Company (CNFL) will pay 6.97% more.

In rural areas including Los Santos, south of San José; San Carlos, in north-central Costa Rica; and parts of the northwestern Guanacaste province, users of cooperative energy providers will pay 5.4-7.9% more.

ARESEP sent these new tariffs yesterday to the National Printer, and they will go into effect as soon as they are printed in the official government daily La Gaceta.