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-Editorial
The Mexicali Business Coordinating Council has presented the results of recent surveys and a series of proposed solutions to address the recurring blackouts plaguing the city. In a press briefing, business leaders voiced growing concern over continued disruptions to the electrical supply, which they say are impacting both economic productivity and public well-being.
Despite multiple explanations from the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) attributing the outages to vandalism, traffic accidents, or illegal connections, the Council dismissed these claims as implausible and lacking technical grounding. “It would require simultaneous acts of vandalism citywide or numerous traffic collisions at once to justify such widespread outages,” said Octavio Sandoval López, President of the Council. He further criticized the suggestion that theft of electricity in low-income areas was a significant factor, calling the narrative discriminatory and misleading.
The Council emphasized that the root cause of the crisis is not a lack of energy generation, but outdated and overburdened infrastructure for energy transformation and distribution. Since 2019, no new substations have been built in Mexicali, leaving the existing network unable to keep pace with the city’s population growth and increasing energy demands. The situation has been exacerbated by the region’s extreme summer heat, which intensifies household energy consumption, particularly from air conditioning and smart appliances.
Surveys indicate that the blackouts have caused over 12 million pesos in losses among affected residents alone, and a widespread perception that government agencies have abandoned their responsibilities. The business community is now urging urgent and long-term actions from the CFE and government authorities.
The urgent measures proposed for 2025 focus on stabilizing Mexicali’s overburdened electrical infrastructure. These include immediate and ongoing maintenance of distribution networks, as well as preventive maintenance for substations. The business council also calls for the revival and expansion of successful solar energy programs such as FIPATERM and ASÍ, with improved accessibility based on energy consumption levels and geographic zones. Additional priorities include promoting rational and efficient energy use across all sectors and installing 5,000 solar panels for low-income and vulnerable households.
Looking ahead to the medium term (2026–2028), the council proposes developing a detailed projection of future energy demand through 2030 to guide infrastructure planning. A key recommendation is to invest 300 million pesos annually to expand the operational capacity of substations, building one new facility each year. Other measures include budgeting an annual maintenance program based on the current state of the infrastructure, forming a permanent technical working group composed of representatives from CFE, government, civil society, and the private sector, and modernizing regulations to mandate underground distribution networks. These actions aim to reduce illegal connections, improve efficiency, and enhance the city’s urban image.
The Council called on the CFE to fulfill its technical and financial responsibilities, and on federal and state governments to prioritize energy infrastructure in their agendas. They also urged the legislature to enforce accountability and oversight, and encouraged citizens to stay informed and use energy responsibly.
“Mexicali needs a modern, resilient, and efficient power grid—not baseless explanations,” said Sandoval. “The current crisis reflects years of neglect. Solving it will require investment, planning, and political will.”