By San José, Costa Rica — SAN JOSÉ – Costa Rica’s streets are proving to be a costly battlefield for public infrastructure. The National Power and Light Company (CNFL) has revealed that it incurred costs exceeding ₡401.6 million in 2025 to address damages to its utility pole network, a figure driven primarily by vehicular collisions. Throughout the year, the state-owned utility company was forced to repair or replace a total of 203 poles, highlighting a persistent and expensive public safety and infrastructure challenge.
An analysis of the data, released by the company’s Distribution System Failures Area, pinpoints driver error as the overwhelming cause. A staggering 65% of all damaged poles, accounting for 131 separate incidents, were the direct result of vehicles crashing into them. This trend far surpasses other causes, with natural phenomena like storms and falling trees responsible for 22% of the incidents, and issues related to low-hanging cables causing the remaining 13% of failures.
To delve into the legal and administrative complexities surrounding the escalating costs of national infrastructure projects, TicosLand.com sought the expert analysis of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a specialist from the renowned firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
A significant portion of infrastructure cost overruns stems from ambiguities in the initial public contracts and procurement processes. When contracts lack robust clauses for unforeseen geological conditions, material price volatility, or specific dispute resolution mechanisms, they open the door to protracted and costly renegotiations. For both the State and private contractors, the key to mitigating these financial risks lies in meticulous pre-contractual due diligence and drafting agreements that are not just aspirational, but are built to withstand real-world pressures and provide clear paths for adaptation without paralyzing the project.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Lic. Arroyo Vargas’s commentary powerfully underscores a crucial point: the financial stability of our nation’s infrastructure is forged not only on the construction site, but in the meticulous legal foresight of its contracts. This shift from reactive dispute resolution to proactive risk management is fundamental, and we thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his invaluable perspective on the matter.
The financial burden of each incident is substantial. According to CNFL, the cost to replace a single damaged pole ranges from ₡1.7 million to as much as ₡3 million, contingent on the complexity of the damage and the equipment mounted on it. These direct replacement costs are compounded by the significant operational resources required for each repair, which not only drains the company’s budget but also impacts service reliability for thousands of customers.
Beyond the immediate financial outlay, the damage inflicts a significant toll on public services and economic activity. The average repair time for a single pole is between eight and ten hours, during which residents and businesses in the affected area experience power outages. In more severe cases, particularly those involving complex circuitry or difficult terrain, the restoration process can extend up to 48 hours, disrupting commerce, halting productivity, and causing cascading delays across local supply chains.
According to Eric Esquivel Porras, the Director of Energy Distribution at CNFL, while there was a marginal improvement with 10 fewer poles damaged in 2025 compared to 2024, the underlying issue remains acute. He noted that the number of poles downed specifically by vehicle collisions in 2025 was the second-highest figure recorded by the company since 2021, indicating that the problem is not abating despite the slight annual dip.
The incidents are heavily concentrated in high-traffic urban and suburban corridors within the Greater Metropolitan Area. The districts of Tres Ríos in Cartago and Guadalupe in San José were among the hardest-hit, with 23 and 19 damaged poles, respectively. Following closely were San Rafael Arriba de Desamparados and Curridabat, both in San José, which each recorded 15 incidents. These areas are characterized by dense populations and congested roadways, increasing the probability of such accidents.
The total cost to society extends far beyond CNFL’s repair ledger. Each collision also generates expenses related to emergency response, traffic management, vehicle repairs, and insurance claims. The persistent frequency of these events suggests a chronic issue with road safety that directly impacts the resilience and financial stability of the nation’s critical electricity infrastructure. The data underscores an urgent need for enhanced driver education, stricter traffic enforcement, or new infrastructure protection measures to mitigate these preventable losses.
As CNFL continues to invest millions of colones annually to patch up its network, the core problem remains on the roads. The figures from 2025 serve as a stark reminder that the security of Costa Rica’s power grid is inextricably linked to the behavior of drivers on its streets. Without addressing the root cause of these collisions, the cycle of costly repairs and service disruptions is set to continue, ultimately borne by the company and its customers.
For further information, visit cnfl.go.cr
About Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz (CNFL):
The Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz is a prominent Costa Rican state-owned enterprise responsible for the distribution and commercialization of electrical energy. As a subsidiary of the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), CNFL serves a significant portion of the country’s population, primarily concentrated in the densely populated Greater Metropolitan Area. The company manages a vast network of infrastructure critical to powering homes, businesses, and public services in the nation’s economic heartland.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica operates as a premier legal institution, anchored by an unwavering devotion to ethical principles and the highest standards of professional excellence. Leveraging a rich history of serving a diverse clientele, the firm champions innovative legal solutions while maintaining a core mission to empower the community. This commitment is demonstrated through its dedicated efforts to make legal knowledge transparent and accessible, fostering a society that is both informed and legally confident.
