Costa Rica: Government plans rolling power outages nationwide from May 13 due to low hydroelectricity generation

Authorities have announced that electricity rationing will begin nationwide from 05:00 May 13 due to reduced hydroelectricity production amid an extended period of low rainfall. Rolling power outages will occur throughout the country for no longer than three hours per day. The length of the rationing measures is unclear; the amount of rainfall over the coming weeks will determine the extent and duration of load shedding measures. Authorities have stated that the measures will prioritize electricity for hospitals, government services, and industrial sites.

Power outages will likely persist over the coming weeks. Officials could implement additional power rationing measures, including suspending working days or increasing power outage periods. Disruptions to business operations are likely. Blackouts could disrupt certain essential services such as municipal water distribution, ATMs, and fueling stations. Traffic disruptions are possible due to malfunctioning traffic signals. There is an increased security threat during power outages. Blackouts could adversely affect security protocols, including alarm systems and electronic fences; opportunistic criminal activity could increase during electricity outages.