CFE Activates Substation in Puerto Morelos to Combat Blackouts in Cancun and Riviera Maya

Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo — The Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) has activated the new Leona Vicario electrical substation in Puerto Morelos, a 2.156 billion peso ($107 million) project designed to curb the wave of blackouts affecting Cancun and the Riviera Maya amid surging demand due to heat.

The substation adds 105.5 kilometers of transmission lines to the National Transmission Network. CFE officials said the infrastructure will directly benefit 718,334 users in northern Quintana Roo, the region’s most dynamic demographic and tourist area.

CFE specialized personnel built and commissioned the plant, accelerating work to energize the area safely and efficiently in response to urgent social needs.

The activation comes at a critical time for the Yucatan Peninsula. In recent weeks, intense heat and energy overdemand — driven by high population density and air conditioning use — have saturated the local grid, causing constant blackouts affecting businesses and thousands of homes.

With the Leona Vicario substation online, CFE aims to get ahead of the peak summer season in July and August, when temperatures and electricity demand reach their highest levels.

The project is part of the National Electric System Strengthening and Expansion Plan and complements a substation CFE inaugurated in Cancun in April. Earlier this year, CFE also energized a new capacitor bank at the Balam substation in Cancun, consolidating a backup circuit to prevent supply collapses during weather emergencies.