The Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) reported that power outages fell 39% during the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2024, attributed to a “historic investment” in the expansion and modernization of the country’s transmission and distribution networks.

Speaking at the Industrial Exhibition of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Mexico section, head of CFE Emilia Calleja said that system restoration times were also “significantly reduced,” typically resolved within one to three hours. 

Calleja noted that improvements in electricity coverage respond to CFE’s updated strategy to enhance and modernize distribution network capacity, as attention had long been focused primarily on generation.

The head of CFE explained that “modern, robust and intelligent grids” allow for the integration of new energy sources, remote operation, anticipation of failures and, above all, a better response to natural disasters.  

The latter has a direct precedent in the aftermath of Hurricane Otis, which in October 2023 devastated much of Guerrero’s electrical infrastructure, leaving more than 500,000 customers without power. It took the CFE a record time of seven days to restore service in that region.

“This experience showed us the importance of having a resilient infrastructure, qualified and well-trained personnel, and above all, technology that allows us to respond quickly,” Calleja said. 

For this purpose, between 2024 and 2030, CFE is implementing a program exceeding 244 billion pesos, including 15 billion pesos (US $859 million) in 2025-2026 alone, to strengthen distribution with new poles, meters and conductors. 

The move is enhanced by the renewable energy plan recently presented by Energy Minister Luz Elena González. In June, González explained that the government aims to add 32,475 megawatts of generation capacity to the national electricity system by 2030, of which approximately 22,376 megawatts — roughly 70% — will come from renewable sources.

Speaking at Sheinbaum’s mañanera, Calleja also highlighted the emblematic project of the Rafael Galván Maldonado Solar Park in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, which upon completion of its four stages will reach 1,000 megawatts, becoming the largest solar installation in the Americas.

With reports from La Jornada and El Heraldo de México