A $25 million hydroelectric project will be built by COOPEGUANACASTE (Guanacuaste Cooperative for Rural Electrification) in Upala. The 17.5 Megawatt plant will be on the Zapote River and will provide enough power for all of the cooperative’s users. This will allow the coop to stop purchasing electricity from ICE, and will eliminate the need to raise rates in the long term. Coopeguanacaste serves Nicoya, Carrillo, Santa Cruz, Hojancha, Nandayure, Cóbano, Lepanto and Paquera.

Despite rough treatment at the hand of the legislature and its employees, Federico Carrilo doesn’t have to worry about his job. President Pacheco criticized the representatives for not approving his Tax Plan and then blaming the Finance Minister for not having money to give them.

He said, “Federico has always performed his duties” and that the full support of the president is behind him.

A ruling by ARESEP means that 400 users in the province of Limon will receive refunds for lack of service in May and June of this year. Users were without service for between 10 days and 39 days and will get refunds of 620 colones to 2418 colones.