Coopesantos

What Coopesantos does

Coopesantos (legal name: Cooperativa de Electrificación Rural Los Santos R.L.) is a member-owned rural electrification cooperative headquartered in San Marcos de Tarrazú, Costa Rica, operating for more than 50 years across a 1,500 km² concession area covering 120 communities in 9 cantons of the Los Santos and Caraigres regions and serving more than 54,000 associated members and customers. The cooperative's core offering is electricity distribution, with generation provided by the 12.75 MW Parque Eólico Los Santos wind farm (15 turbines, operating since November 2011) that supplies approximately 30% of demand, supplemented by 1,513 distributed solar panels, ownership in Coneléctricas R.L. hydroelectric assets, and purchases from ICE (Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad) when self-generation is insufficient. Tariff categories include residential (T-RE), general (T-GE), preferential (T-CS), medium-voltage time-of-use (T-MT), and public lighting (T-AP).

Beyond electricity, Coopesantos operates an integrated multi-service utility: Cablesantos (Coopesantos Infocomunicaciones) delivers GPON fiber optic internet with symmetric speeds up to 800 Mbps, DOCSIS 3.0/2.1 coaxial internet, and digital TV packages up to 146 channels; Coopesantos Comercial sells consumer goods through physical points of sale and an online catalog with credit and warranty policies; and the DITEM division, established in 1990, provides diagnostic, installation, and maintenance services for low- and medium-voltage equipment including transformers, substations, photovoltaic systems, and electric vehicle charging stations. Distribution is handled through four physical service platforms (San Marcos de Tarrazú corporate HQ, Río Conejo, Acosta, Guayabo de Mora), a contact center (2546-2525), a free hotline (800-2525-2525), WhatsApp channels, and the Coopesantos en línea online portal. Revenue is generated primarily through subscription recurring tariffs across electricity and telecom, supplemented by one-time retail sales and professional services from DITEM. The cooperative holds UN Clean Development Mechanism (MDL), Gold Standard, and Costa Rica MINAE Carbon Neutral certifications, and operates under a telecom contract homologated by Sutel. Leadership is headed by Gerente General Mario Patricio Solís.

Name

Coopesantos

Legal name

Cooperativa de Electrificación Rural Los Santos R.L.

Website

https://coopesantos.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Coopesantos is a member-owned rural electrification cooperative in Costa Rica that distributes electricity to 54,000+ members across 1,500 km² and 120 communities in 9 cantons, and additionally provides fiber/coaxial internet, TV, retail, and electrical maintenance services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Electric Utility Cooperative

NAICS

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Electric Power Distribution (221122), Wind Electric Power Generation (221115), Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Electric Cooperatives (Rural/Member-Owned Utilities) (EUADABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community & Distributed Wind Power Generation (Behind-the-Meter/Small Wind) (EUACAFAD), Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind (EUAMAJAD), Community Microgrids (Neighborhood, Municipal, Cooperative) (EUAFAJAC)

Keywords

• Rural electricity distribution
• Cooperative utility services
• Wind energy generation
• Telecommunications internet
• Electrical equipment maintenance

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Cecilia

HQ country

Costa Rica

HQ region

Latin America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Electricity Distribution: Core revenue stream from distribution of electrical energy to rural communities across 9 cantons in Costa Rica. Electricity tariffs include residential (T-RE), general (T-GE), preferential (T-CS), medium voltage (T-MT), and public lighting (T-AP) categories.
2. Telecommunications Services (TV, Internet): Coopesantos Infocomunicaciones (Cablesantos) generates revenue from TV cable, internet (fiber optic and coaxial), and IPTV services to residential and commercial customers in rural areas.
3. Commercial Retail Products: Coopesantos Comercial sells a range of commercial products through physical points of sale, with credit and warranty policies for customers.
4. Electrical Services (DITEM): Coopesantos Energía provides diagnostic, maintenance, and installation services for electrical equipment including transformers, substations, and photovoltaic systems, as well as EV charging stations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Coopesantos is a rural electrification cooperative that distributes electrical energy to over 54,000 members across 120 communities in 9 cantons covering 1,500 km² in the Los Santos and Caraigres regions of Costa Rica. It generates renewable energy through its Parque Eólico Los Santos wind farm (12.75 MW) and 1,513 installed solar panels, and additionally provides telecommunications services (TV cable, fiber optic and wireless internet, IPTV) through Cablesantos, electrical equipment diagnostic and maintenance services through DITEM, and consumer retail through Coopesantos Comercial.

Product overview

Coopesantos is a rural electrification cooperative (Cooperativa de Electrificación Rural Los Santos R.L.) operating as a multi-service utility with three main business lines: (1) Coopesantos Energía handles electricity generation and distribution, including the Parque Eólico Los Santos wind farm supplying approximately 30% of demand; (2) Cablesantos (Coopesantos Infocomunicaciones) provides telecommunications services including fiber optic internet, cable TV, and IPTV; and (3) Coopesantos Comercial operates retail commerce. Additionally, DITEM offers specialized electrical equipment maintenance and testing services. The company serves over 54,000 members across 120 communities in nine cantons covering 1,500 square kilometers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Coopesantos Energía (Electricity Distribution)
• Parque Eólico Los Santos Wind Farm

Quantifiable outcome

• Parque Eólico Los Santos produces ~30% of cooperative's electricity demand
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía (MINAE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Coopesantos collaborated with MINAE and other electricity distribution companies to develop the national 'Guía para la Prevención y Mitigación de la Electrocución de la Fauna Silvestre por tendidos eléctricos en Costa Rica'. In 2024, distributors reported over 6,700 animals electrocuted on power lines. The guide provides tools to identify risk points, strengthen inter-institutional coordination, and promote measures to protect species.
• ASADAS (Asociaciones Administradoras de Sistemas de Acueductos y Alcantarillados Comunales)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002Coopesantos works with ASADAS (Community Water Supply and Sewerage System Administering Associations) to manage water sources protected through its Water Resource Protection Program. ASADAS are the organizations responsible for managing potable water supply in rural communities. Coopesantos acquires land and involves ASADAS through administration agreements for reforestation and water conservation.
• Coneléctricas R.L.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoopesantos participates in Coneléctricas R.L., a consortium of cooperatives that operates hydroelectric plants (San Lorenzo and Pocosol/Agua Gata) producing clean energy for the member cooperatives. Coneléctricas currently has 80,000 Costa Rican families benefiting from its clean energy production. Coopesantos holds ownership interest through its cooperative affiliation.
• ICE (Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad)minorOthersAs the main electricity provider since its founding, Coopesantos purchases electricity from ICE when its own generation is insufficient. The wind farm allows Coopesantos to significantly decrease electricity purchases from ICE, improving energy self-sufficiency.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Tigo Costa Rica (Millicom): Major mobile and fixed telecom operator in Costa Rica. Competes with Cablesantos for residential broadband and TV subscriptions in rural and peri-urban zones.
• Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE): Costa Rica's national electric utility and telecommunications provider (Kolbi). Overlaps as the wholesale energy supplier to Coopesantos and competes in telecom via Kolbi; broader incumbent with national footprint.
• Liberty Latin America (Liberty Costa Rica): Major cable TV and broadband operator in Costa Rica. Directly comparable to Cablesantos in TV cable and broadband; competes for the same rural and suburban subscribers.
• Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz (CNFL): Major Costa Rican electric distribution utility serving the Greater Metropolitan Area. Comparable electric distribution business model with regulated utility framework, though serving urban rather than rural customers.
• Junta Administradora del Servicio Eléctrico de Cartago (JASEC): Costa Rican municipal electric utility serving Cartago. Overlaps in distribution and renewable generation; comparable regulated electric utility with some renewable generation assets in Costa Rica.

Direct peers

• Coopelesca (Cooperative of Electricity of San Carlos): Costa Rican rural electrification cooperative covering the San Carlos region. Closest direct peer: similar cooperative governance, rural electricity distribution, and renewable generation profile.
• Coopeguanacaste: Another Costa Rican rural electrification cooperative serving Guanacaste province. Directly comparable rural electric cooperative with similar cooperative structure, member-owned governance, and integrated electricity distribution model.
• Coneléctricas R.L. Consortium of Costa Rican rural electric cooperatives that owns and operates hydroelectric plants (San Lorenzo and Pocosol/Agua Gata). Coopesantos is a member; directly comparable cooperative-driven clean energy generation.

Regional players

• Empresa de Servicios Públicos de Heredia (ESPH): Costa Rican municipal electric and water utility. Comparable multi-service municipal utility model serving a defined geographic area, though focused on Heredia rather than Los Santos.

Others

• Federación de Cooperativas de Electrificación (FECOPROL): Costa Rican federation representing rural electrification cooperatives. Adjacent ecosystem participant; comparable cooperative electricity distribution members with similar regulatory and rural service models across Costa Rica.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/coopesantos
• Xx.com/COOPESANTOSRL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ditem-coopesantos

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Coopesantos