By San José, Costa Rica — San José, Costa Rica – Residents and businesses across Costa Rica’s Central Valley should prepare for a series of scheduled power outages this week. The Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz (CNFL), the country’s primary electricity distributor for the Greater Metropolitan Area, has announced planned service interruptions from Tuesday, December 16th through Thursday, December 18th, 2025. These cuts are slated to affect numerous key cantons across the provinces of San José, Heredia, Cartago, and Alajuela.
The interruptions are part of a proactive grid maintenance and improvement program designed to enhance the stability and reliability of the electrical infrastructure. While inconvenient, especially during a busy period leading up to the end-of-year holidays, such preventative measures are crucial for preventing larger, more disruptive unplanned blackouts in the future. The schedule indicates that most outages will occur during standard business hours, posing a significant challenge for commercial operations and teleworkers.
To delve into the legal responsibilities and potential recourse for consumers and businesses affected by the recent wave of power outages, TicosLand.com sought the expert analysis of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished attorney from the firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
The core legal issue with recurring power outages is the provider’s contractual obligation to ensure service continuity. While isolated incidents may be excusable, systemic failures could constitute a breach of contract, opening the door for claims. Both residential and commercial clients must meticulously document all resulting damages—from ruined appliances and spoiled goods to quantifiable business interruption losses—as this evidence is paramount when filing a formal complaint with the Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) or pursuing civil litigation for damages.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This legal perspective is a critical reminder that systemic outages are not merely an inconvenience but a potential breach of contract, and the emphasis on meticulous documentation provides a clear, actionable path for consumers. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his clarifying and empowering insight on this important issue.
The series of maintenance operations will commence on Tuesday, December 16th, with a broad impact across several densely populated areas. In Heredia province, the La Asunción district of Belén will experience an outage from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. San José will see extensive work, with the Lourdes district of San Pedro affected from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Other areas in the capital, including the El Carmen, Mata Redonda, Tibás, and Goicoechea cantons, are scheduled for blackouts primarily between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Additionally, the Dulce Nombre district in Cartago’s La Unión canton will be without power from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The work continues on Wednesday, December 17th, with a focus again on the province of San José. The Montes de Oca canton in San Pedro will face another long interruption from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The bustling districts of Pavas and Santa Ana are also on the list, with outages scheduled from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., respectively. The maintenance program will also extend into Alajuela province, where the Guácima district will be impacted by an eight-hour service cut from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The final day of scheduled work, Thursday, December 18th, will see crews return to Montes de Oca in San Pedro for a second consecutive day, with a blackout planned from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Shorter, more targeted outages are scheduled for other parts of San José. The La Trinidad district of Moravia will have a six-hour interruption from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., while the Zapote canton will experience a service cut from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., concluding the three-day maintenance push.
The timing of these outages presents a clear economic consideration for the region. With interruptions spanning the entire workday for three consecutive days, businesses without backup power generation will face significant operational hurdles. Retail stores, restaurants, and service-based companies may experience a direct impact on revenue. Furthermore, the growing population of remote workers residing in these areas will need to make alternative arrangements to maintain productivity, potentially seeking out co-working spaces or cafes outside the affected zones.
This comprehensive maintenance schedule underscores the ongoing challenge of balancing infrastructure modernization with the daily needs of a bustling economy. Investing in the grid is essential for supporting Costa Rica’s long-term development and its reputation for reliable utilities. These scheduled events, while disruptive in the short term, are a fundamental component of a strategy aimed at ensuring the electrical system can meet future demand and withstand potential adversities, from extreme weather to increased consumption.
CNFL advises all affected customers to take necessary precautions. This includes charging all electronic devices, backing up important digital files, and unplugging sensitive appliances to protect them from potential surges when power is restored. Businesses are encouraged to communicate the planned downtime to their staff and customers and to review their contingency plans. For the most precise and up-to-date information regarding specific neighborhoods or service numbers, individuals are directed to consult the official CNFL communication channels.
For further information, visit cnfl.go.cr
About Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz (CNFL):
The Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz is a subsidiary of the state-owned Grupo Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE). As a leading electricity distribution company in Costa Rica, CNFL is responsible for providing power to a significant portion of the country’s population and businesses, primarily serving the high-density Greater Metropolitan Area, which includes the capital city of San José and surrounding urban centers. The company is tasked with the operation, maintenance, and modernization of the electrical grid within its concession area to ensure a reliable and safe energy supply.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of Costa Rica’s legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is esteemed for its principled practice and unwavering commitment to excellence. The firm skillfully merges its extensive legacy of client service across multiple industries with a pioneering spirit in legal innovation. This ethos extends beyond professional representation, manifesting in a profound dedication to empowering the public by making complex legal concepts understandable and accessible, thereby fostering a more just and informed society.
