Hi all,
With all this electricity problem in Ecuador, some friends asked me, how much is the price per Kilowatt hour in Ecuador?
Well, and the answer is not easy, but, let’s start from the “home” electricity price:
1.- The owner of the electricity in Ecuador, is the national government, it´s not a private business. https://www.celec.gob.ec/ is the national institution that controls the generation and distribution of electricity.
2.- In our zone, Loja, Zamora and Gualaquiza, the electricity distribution is under the responsibility of EERSSA https://www.eerssa.gob.ec/
3.- The electricity in Ecuador, to some Kw/h have a subsidy from the government. In the Sierra the full subsidy goes to a top of 110 Kw/h per month and in the coast, orient (Amazonia) and Galápagos, the subsidy is into the 130 Kw/h per month (in the coast is bigger due the use of air conditioner and more refreshing gadgets.
4.- The price of the Kw/h, without subsidy, is around $17.
5.- If you have a business, any kind: restaurants, factories, coffee shop, stores, the subsidy is reduced little by little, and at some point, you will pay the full amount, and the power companies in Ecuador are very strict about this. If they find that you have a small store and you are paying the “home price”, immediately they will change the base of your Kw/h and also calculate the months you were using the electricity under subsidy and charge you with the extra money. If you don’t pay or if you don’t do a “payment plan” they just cut your service and charge reconnection and more related fees.
6.- In your real electricity invoice, not the little ticket you receive when you pay for the service (for example, in Cacpe) you can see how much electricity you were using the last months and also the subsidy the government is giving to us.
If you want to go deeper in these prices and fees, here https://www.cnelep.gob.ec/…/Pliego-Tarifario-SPEE-2024 you can find the whole explanation, in Spanish and, the electricity generated in Ecuador, has the reputation to be the cheapest one in South America.
Now, if in one month you use more than 110 Kw/h, the subsidy is reduced little by little, and at some point, you will be ending the real price per Kw/h.
Before I forget, example, if you go on vacation some days, weeks, and you disconnect everything in your home, there is a “base” you will have to pay every month, even if you don’t use a single Kw/H, I think that “base” is around $9, so, no one in the Ecuadorian Sierra, pays less than that.
Also, there is a reduction in the payment, if you are 65 years old but, you are the owner of the electric meter. If your landlord is below 65 years old, there is no way he/she can pay less every month. If you are the owner of the electric meter and you are above 65 years old, approach the nearest EERSSA office and request the steps to receive the discount. It will not be 50%, but will be something.
Ulises Acosta: ulisesacostac@gmail.com
City: Loja
