Electric Power
Electricity in Baja California is an abundant resource. It is important to mention that Mexicali has become the first city in the country in receiving Federal Government authorization to import electricity from the US, as an option for companies established in the region. Most of the electricity available in the State, in one way or another is controlled by the Federal Electricity Commission, a Federal Government Agency.
Baja California’s Electric System
Baja California’s electric system comes from two main source centers, one in Rosarito, “Thermoelectric Plant Presidente Juarez” and the other one in Mexicali, “Geothermal Plant Cerro Prieto”.
This system is joined to the Western System Council Coordinator energy market, connected to the US system through two 230 KW connections in Mexicali and Tijuana. This strategic situation offers conditions with high voltage profiles and frequencies similar to the ones that the US system offers.
Cerro Prieto Geothermal Plant is the largest in Latin America and the second largest in the world.
There are as well, two private companies (Sempra Energy and Intergen) that are producing Electric Power for California and the local market. Negotiations with the power plants for co-generation and lower rates are possible for the benefit of both parties. A total of additional 1,765 MW for the year 2004 were generated, plus some other projects still in their feasibility study phase.
The charge of power is made per kilowatt/hour (k.w./h), and it changes according to the rate’s type chosen and depending on the consumption, the intervals are described as follows:
Tension |
Voltage |
Rate Type |
Use |
Low Tension |
V ≤ 1,000 |
2, 3 |
General use |
Mid Tension |
1,000 < V < 35,000 |
O-M, H-M, HM-C |
General &
Industrial Use |
High Sub-transmission |
35,000 < V < 220,000 |
H-S, H-SL |
Industrial,
High Consumers |
High Transmission |
V ≤ 220,000 |
H-T, H-TL |
Industrial,
High Consumers |
Rate Types:
1) O-M = Ordinary Consumption < 100 K.w. 2) H-M, H-MC=Horary Consumption > 100 K.w.
3) H-S, HSL = Horary Sub-transmission. 4) H-T, H-TL= Horary Transmission.
NOTES: More than 650 companies are under the O-M and H-M rates.
HM-C is recommended for companies with only 1 shift.
High Consumers: Thomson, DOMEX, Sidec, Aqueducts.
It is important to consider that during the summer prices are different through the day due to peak hours, mostly between 12:00–18:00 hours or 14:00–18:00 hours, depending of your rate type (H-M or H-MC). The rest of the day, it is considered as intermediate hours, hence, prices are cheaper. The summer period starts on May 1st, until October’s last Saturday.
During the winter, rates are lower than in summer. There are no peak hours; only base and intermediate hours apply, which are cheaper. Intermediate hours go from 17:00 to 22:00 hours Monday through Friday, and 18:00–21:00 hours on Saturday. The rest of the day is considered as base hours. The winter period starts on October’s last Sunday until April 30th.
Industrial Power Rates in Baja California *
(U.S. Dollars/ K.w.h.) |
Rate Type |
Charge per K.w./h of demand |
Charge per K.w./h of Peak Hours |
Charge per K.w./h of Intermediate Hours |
Charge by K.w./h of
Base Hours |
H–MC
Medium tension
(Demands of 100 K.w. or more) |
13.75 |
0.303 |
0.060 |
0.045 |
H-S
High tension |
12.71 |
0.242 |
0.056 |
0.048 |
H-T
High tension |
11.88 |
0.231 |
0.055 |
0.047 |
Exchange rate considered: 1 US Dollar X 10.80 pesos. Prices of May, 2006.
Source: Comision Federal de Electricidad.
NOTE: An increase to the rates according to the variation of index of prices to the producer and of the prices of fuels is applied monthly.
The main advantage of these rates is that a company can schedule its working hours, and they can exchange some peak hours for base or intermediate, depending on the season. Besides, to avoid the excessive use of lights on, or unnecessary machinery or equipment during these peak hours would significantly reduce the operation’s cost.
CFECTIVA EMPRESARIAL
As part of their services, CFE runs a program called CFECTIVA EMPRESARIAL, focused exclusively in assisting companies or distinguished clients located in Mexico. The program consists in assisting a CFE’s executive to provide personal assistance and guide each particular problem in order to understand the company’s needs. The idea is to become important part of the crew and solve their questions or inquiries in an effective way. This program is free of charge.
The program is based on four strategic areas:
- Personal Assistance: Schedule visits to the company, resolve questions regarding to rates or invoice, substation or equipment’s inspection, costs analysis, among others.
- Professional Assistance: Contracting the Start-up generation demand, measurement equipment, save energy options, trust found F.I.D.E., just to mention a few.
- Quality Services: Scheduled Blackouts, energy flow continuity, transmission lines maintenance, harmonics verification, and optimal regulation, etc.
- Preferential Service: Priority in the case of blackout or interruption, equipment’s periodical revision, measurement equipment’s adjustment, express contract, just to mention a few.
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