Honduras hikes electricity tariffs by 12.48% as government pushes ENEE reforms

Effective July 1, the state utility ENEE raised the average electricity tariff by 12.48%, affecting residential, commercial and industrial users across Honduras. The increase, approved by the Comisión Reguladora de Energía Eléctrica, will raise monthly bills roughly 12.48% – for example, a L500 bill becomes about L562.40.

An former ENEE manager warned that the tariff hike reflects one of the deepest financial crises in the utility’s history, driven by costly thermal generation and limited planning, and that higher costs threaten the country’s economic competitiveness. President Nasry Asfura called on the 128 members of Congress to approve a package of reforms aimed at rescuing ENEE, noting the utility loses about 1,200 million lempiras each month and the government subsidises another 283 million lempiras from taxes. The president also highlighted the IMF’s approval of the fourth and fifth reviews of Honduras’s economic program, unlocking a US$242 million disbursement. Citizens have expressed concern over the added cost amid already high living expenses.