WILLEMSTAD – Electricity will become more expensive in Curaçao starting September 1, while consumers will see a small reduction in water rates. Household electricity prices will increase by more than two cents per kilowatt-hour, while water rates will decline by just over two cents per cubic meter.
Households consuming up to 250 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month currently pay nearly ANG 0.61 per kilowatt-hour. From September, that rate will rise to more than ANG 0.63.
For households consuming between 250 and 350 kilowatt-hours, the rate will increase from nearly ANG 0.72 to almost ANG 0.74 per kilowatt-hour.
Consumers using more than 350 kilowatt-hours per month will see their rate increase from nearly ANG 0.76 to more than ANG 0.78 per kilowatt-hour.
The higher electricity rates will not be limited to households. Businesses, industrial consumers and the hospital will also face increased tariffs beginning September 1.
According to the government, the increase is primarily due to higher average fuel costs for electricity generation, combined with a slight increase in the correction factor calculated for July.
Water customers, meanwhile, will receive a modest price reduction.
Households consuming up to nine cubic meters of water will pay just over ANG 8.40 per cubic meter from September, compared with more than ANG 8.42 currently.
For consumption between nine and 12 cubic meters, the rate will decline from more than ANG 13.57 to just over ANG 13.55 per cubic meter. Rates in the other consumption categories will also decrease by slightly more than two cents per cubic meter.
The government said electricity costs associated with producing drinking water increased. However, a lower correction factor for July was sufficient to offset those higher production costs, resulting in a small net reduction in water tariffs.
The new utility rates take effect September 1.