Since June 1, there has been a 3% increase in the average selling price to the final consumer in the country, going from the cost per megawatt of $219.8 reported in March to $226.5 from this month.
The increase was officialized in La Gaceta on June 18 and the new price per megawatt is applied to each tier that makes up the tariff sheet, which includes residential, commercial, industrial and irrigation tariffs.
Companies in the sector are proposing taking advantage of surplus energy and developing more generating capacity in order to become large exporters.
The proposal put forward by the Chamber of Energy (CEN) is to use the geological characteristics of the country to exploit energy generated from renewable sources such as solar, biomass and water.The President of the CEN explained that they suggested to the government that discussion be started so that Nicaragua"... can be a 'powerhouse' for exporting electricity, importing plants and occupying the regional market."
Investment made by Guatemalan companies in Nicaragua almost tripled between 2014 and 2015, with money mainly going into energy, sugar, palm oil and tourism.
In the past eight years Guatemalan companies have invested $246 million in Nicaragua, according to ProNicaragua.In 2013 the highest amount in the last five years was recorded, with $46 million being invested in the country.In 2014 the amount of investment was only $6 million, while in 2015 it amounted to $16.7 million.
The population's increased access to electricity, the growth of irrigation systems, and buoyant economic activity explain the estimated 10% increase in demand for energy in 2015.
These factors accounted for most of the significant growth in energydemand in the country in 2015, said Cesar Zamora, country manager of IC Power and chairman of the Chamber of Energy in Nicaragua, to El Nuevo Diario.
The law affecting wind power plants has been declared void and space opened for new operating rules for the electricity system.
The Ministerial Agreement that sought to change the rules of operation of the electricity system has been declared without effect, after the National Electricity Transmission Company (Enatrel), the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) and the Chamber of Energy in Nicaragua announced they will work on a new regulation to keep the system as it has worked so far, reported El Nuevo Diario.
A private sector union is convening a symposium on economic and energy perspectives on 8 March in the country.
The symposium is being sponsored by the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) and the Chamber of Energy in Nicaragua (CEN) together with the NGO known as the Council of the Americas.
The Nicaraguan Energy Institute has confirmed that the reduction in the tariff schedule has the support of employers, despite a further decrease being expected.
The president of the Nicaraguan Energy Institute (INE), David Castillo, told Elnuevodiario.com.ni that this reduction in energy comes on top of another 10% which was approved in April 2015. It was also noted that if the oil price continues to fall, further reductions will be analyzed every three months.
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