Fix in Cuba new residential electric rates

Havana - New electric rates were established in the residential sector for the consumers of more than 300 kilowatt/hour monthly.

Granma newspaper explains that will begin to be applied to the consumption that is carried out in the second pay period of coming November.

Such and as usually happens, the Electric Union will register this expense in the reading of the meter count during the second pay period of the following month - in this case, December -, so the corresponding collection will become effective in January of the 2011.

The one mentioned newspaper specifies that this measure, which doesn't affect to 94,4 percent of the homes, has as purpose to stimulate the saving.

It refers that it involves those that spend more than 300 kilowatt/hour (kwh), which constitute today 5,6 percent and consume 14,4 percent of the electricity of the residential sector.

In the period lapsed from the last modification of the residential electric rate in November of the 2005, the price average of the petroleum was increased from 56 to 78 dollars the barrel.

It has provoked a considerable growth in the costs of the electricity and in consequence an increase of the subsidies of the State.

In Cuba more than 50 percent of the fuel that wastes away every year is dedicated to the electricity generation.

While the state sector has diminished the consumption with regard to the 2009 in more than 10 percent, the rhythm in the residential one continues in ascent, for what is necessary a more rational use of that energy.

The fixed current rate of 1.30 cents for those who consume of 301 until more than five thousand kwh modifies in the following way:

The consumption 301 at 350 the kwh settles down to 1.50 cents; of 351 at 500 the cost becomes of 1.80 cents the kwh; of 501 at thousand will be paid to reason of two pesos the kwh; the one of thousand 001 at five thousand notices three pesos the kwh; and more than five thousand will charge to five pesos the kwh.