As scorching weather affects much of the country, many Mexicans are without electricity during the afternoons and nights. Power outages are being reported in at least 21 of the 32 states in the nation, and the National Energy Control Center (Cenace) has declared a state of emergency in Mexico’s electricity system on more than three occasions.
(CDMX – Times Media Mexico) – Mexico’s CFE is now forced to shut off nearly three-quarters of its public lighting during peak hours nationwide, a drastic measure to combat a deepening energy crisis. Since Lopez Obrador assumed the presidency in 2018, the country has grappled with power outages, but the situation has escalated rapidly in recent months due to a lack of infrastructure. The withdrawal of private companies that once supplied electricity, coupled with the aging of existing structures, has exacerbated the problem.
Reports from across Mexico indicate that power cuts are affecting a significant portion of the country, including popular tourist destinations like Cancun, Cozumel, Tulum, and Riviera Nayarit. Despite these widespread disruptions, Lopez Obrador has downplayed the issue, claiming there is ‘no real problem’. However, the reality is a severe shortage of electricity across the country, primarily due to a lack of maintenance and the complete shutdown of several thermoelectric power units. The government’s failure to invest in the electricity grid has only worsened the situation.
Blackout in Yucatan – Photo: Megamedia
As scorching weather affects much of the country, many Mexicans are without electricity during the afternoons and nights. Power outages are being reported in at least 21 of the 32 states in the nation, and the National Energy Control Center (Cenace) has declared a state of emergency in Mexico’s electricity system on more than three occasions.
Cenace has stated that Mexico’s electricity generation capacity is being affected by the overdemand for electricity all over the country, to the extent that a power plant was busted in Tamaulipas. Subsequently, several other power plants in various parts of the country went offline, and solar and wind power generation dropped, Cenace said.
Mexico’s mass power outages are related to the increased electricity demand generated by the current heat wave. The increased demand due to high temperatures in most parts of Mexico stresses the electricity’s national system.
The blackouts are not confined to a few isolated areas. They are being reported in Tamaulipas, Coahuila, Colima, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí, Jalisco, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Mexico City and state, Hidalgo, Morelos, Puebla, Guerrero, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo. The lack of specific actions from Cenace and CFE, the Federal Electricity Commission, to prevent further blackouts is a cause for concern. The blackouts are already impacting businesses, hospitals, and citizens, eventhou, CFE denies it, however, the National Meteorological Service is forecasting temperatures of 40 to 45 C in 22 states. Experts warn that the blackouts will continue.
With information from: Cenace, CFE, agencies
The Yucatan Times
Newsroom
