Frequently Asked Questions - SIM Card in Curaçao

HOW DOES THE PAGATINU SYSTEM WORK IN CURAZAO?

Pagatinu is Aqualectra’s prepaid electricity service. It’s very common to find this system in rental properties or villas, but it’s also very useful for apartment owners. Basically, it works like a prepaid phone card. You purchase a set amount of “electricity credit,” and you can use electricity for a certain number of days, depending on how many kilowatts you consume. The advantage for the owner is that they don’t have to worry about unpaid bills from tenants or tourists, which is why it has become a very popular system on the island. This system also offers an advantage to Pagatinu users. In Curaçao, electricity is relatively expensive. With this system, you can control the amount of energy you use yourself. You’ll become more aware of how you use electricity and thus learn how to save on your electricity bills.

The Pagatinu system is installed via a terminal with a keypad. Each terminal has a unique number. On the display, you can view and recharge your credit using the keypad by entering the recharge number you’ll receive when you buy electricity. You can recharge your credit at most supermarkets and many gas stations.

How can I find out my Pagatinu number?

To find the Pagatinu number, check the card that came with the terminal. The owner must give you that number so you can recharge at any time. You can also find a code on the display. If the Pagatinu system box is white, you can enter the code #4#. If the box is new or gray, enter the code #100#. The 11-digit number is also visible on a label or barcode on the Pagatinu box mounted on the wall. With that number, go to the store and purchase energy credit in the amount of your choice. In exchange, you’ll receive a voucher with a number on it. It shows the number of units you’ve purchased and a code. Enter this code into the Pagatinu meter at home, and your units will be updated. Pretty simple, right?

How and where can I buy credit for my Pagatinu?

Locations with Pagomático

Locations with Pagafasil

PRACTICAL TIPS

- Air conditioning uses the most electricity. If possible, cool the room and use a fan. You can also set the air conditioner to turn off after a certain number of hours.

- Will you be staying at an Airbnb or an apartment? Check with the owner to see if electricity is included or if it’s a prepaid system. This way, you’ll avoid unpleasant surprises if you end up without power because you didn’t know you had to recharge the meter for your usage.

- If you live in Curaçao or will be staying there for an extended period and need to top up your Pagatinu without leaving home, you can do so online via the following page by making a transfer from your MCB account: 24 Uur Uit De Muur (instructions in English). Normally, after making the transfer and submitting the request form, you’ll receive the code to top up your Pagatinu via WhatsApp within 30 minutes to 1 hour. If you don’t have an MCB account, the transfer may take 24–48 hours before your request is processed. Be sure to do this in advance.

Do you have any other questions about using the Pagatinu system in Curaçao? Send us a message, and we'll be happy to help.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT ELECTRICITY IN CURAZAO

Understanding how electricity works in Curaçao is essential, just as it is when traveling to any other international destination.

Many travelers encounter surprises when visiting a new destination for the first time—such as realizing they didn't bring a power adapter, that the voltage is high, or that in some destinations, there may be scheduled power outages.

I've put together this guide so you won't be caught off guard by some interesting facts about electricity in Curaçao. Depending on which country you're coming from, the cost and use of electricity in Curaçao may be very different from where you live.

POWER OUTAGES ("RATIONING")

It is not uncommon for Aqualectra to carry out scheduled power outages in certain areas of the island from time to time. Some outages are due to insufficient capacity at the power plant, which means that certain neighborhoods or sectors must go without power for a few hours to reduce the electrical load. This scheduled outage rotates among neighborhoods and areas every few hours to avoid affecting the community for long periods on any given day.

A power outage may also be caused by maintenance or malfunctions at the power plant. For this reason, many companies—and even individual customers—have chosen to have a small backup generator for emergencies. This will allow the freezer, some of the lighting, and—depending on the generator’s capacity—the air conditioning to continue functioning normally in the event of a power outage.

Generally, owners of apartments or studios have power supplies when the property is used for tourism purposes. However, if there happens to be a power outage in the apartment where you're staying, try not to open the refrigerator or freezer too often. That way, your food will stay fresh for the duration of the outage.

For desktop computer users, power outages can damage the device. You could lose important data. Therefore, a backup battery (UPS) is recommended. Fortunately, laptops and tablets are equipped with a battery, so they don't have this problem.

Note: Hotels and hospitals do not usually experience this problem, as they have their own reservations and such outages do not affect them.

Helpful tip:

If the place where you're staying experiences a power outage and you can't wait because you need to work, you can head to places equipped with workspaces, where you can plug in your device and, in most cases, have access to free Wi-Fi (as well as central air conditioning). Examples: Sambil, chain restaurants such as Mac Cafés (McDonald’s), KFC, Burger King, or Starbucks.

PREPAID ELECTRICITY (PAGATINU)

Many vacation apartments and villas have an electricity "top-up" system. It's called Pagatinu and is a prepaid electricity system.

Here's how it works: The apartment has a device that looks like a calculator. On it, you can see how many kWh are left to use.

To recharge with more kilowatts, you can go to a gas station, a supermarket, or an Aqualectra branch, where you can purchase electricity. To learn how to calculate your daily energy usage and how to recharge your Pagatinu step by step, read my guide to using the Pagatinu in Curaçao.

TIP: Air conditioning literally "guzzles" electricity. Turn off the air conditioner when it's not absolutely necessary or when you're not in the room. You'll see that you'll save a lot.