QCOSTARICA – The Autoridad Reguladora de Servicios Públicos (Aresep) is warned gasoline station to maintain the supply of fuel in the face of a historic drop in gasoline prices that is about to occur, as early as tomorrow (Thursday), but certainly before the weekend.
The regulating authority said gasoline stations have the obligation to maintain the uninterrupted flow of fuel.
The price drop will be of ¢116 colones for a litre of super gasoline, ¢115 for regular and ¢108 for diesel. Other products such as natural gas, kerosene and jet fuel, among others, will be dropping as well.
Article 14 of Ley 7593 established the obligation of public service operators to “provide service under proper conditions and with regularity”. In short, under the concession granted them, they must be “prepared to ensure, in the short term, service in the face of increased demand.”
The Aresep also called on citizens to report gasoline stations who fail to provide gas.
The warning comes from experience.
In previous years, when a significant drop in fuel prices occurred, some gasoline stations reduced their fuel supply – making smaller orders in days prior to the price change and operating with near empty tanks, some even running out of fuel hours up to the price drop.
Last week the Aresep approved the price drop, sending the approval to the national printer on Monday, that has five working days to publish in the official government newsletter, La Gaceta.
In Costa Rica, gasoline prices is controlled and all stations offer the same fuel (supplied by the Recope) and at the same price.
Once the price reduction goes into effect, a litre of super gasoline will drop from today’s ¢559 to ¢443, regular from ¢539 to ¢424 and diesel from ¢453 to ¢345 .
Click here to check on current fuel prices.
