CFE to End Electricity Subsidy in the Yucatán Peninsula

Mérida, Yucatán — After months of relief through a special electricity subsidy program, the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) will end those discounts on November 1, 2025, for households in Yucatán, Campeche, and Quintana Roo. Even if your consumption stays the same, many domestic users will see their bills increase once the automatic discount disappears.

The subsidy was introduced during the summer and extended into the fall to help residents cope with extreme heat and higher energy demand. Its goal was to ease financial pressure in regions where cooling is nearly essential year-round.

Who Benefits — and Who Loses?

The subsidy has been applied to households under domestic rate categories 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, and 1F, as long as their consumption stayed within the limits set by CFE. Because summer heat in the peninsula lingers well past September, CFE extended the benefit beyond the official end of the season. That extension now ends on November 1.

For most Cancún and Riviera Maya residents, the relevant rate is tariff 1B—which covers areas with an average annual temperature of 25–28 °C. Under this scheme, the “basic consumption” threshold is 400 kWh every two months. If you stay under that limit, you pay the lowest subsidized rate. Once you exceed it, the “intermediate” and “excess” tiers apply, which are more expensive.

With the summer subsidy in place, those intermediate and excess tiers came with an extra discount. Without it, bills in the Riviera Maya are expected to rise 10–25%, depending on usage. Families who rely heavily on air conditioning will feel the increase the most, while households with minimal consumption or solar panels will be less affected.

What This Means for Households

For many families, this change may come as a shock—not because their use changed, but simply because the discount is being removed. The difference on your bill could be substantial, especially heading into the year-end season when electricity use often rises.

To soften the impact, CFE recommends practical efficiency steps such as:

• Switching to LED lighting
• Servicing air conditioners and fans
• Maximizing natural ventilation
• Using energy-efficient appliances and unplugging them when not in use

Why the End of the Subsidy?

The program has carried a heavy fiscal burden. Over recent years, the federal government has spent billions of pesos to keep residential rates artificially low. Phasing out subsidies is part of a broader plan to promote efficiency and, in some cases, alternative energy systems such as residential solar.

At the same time, CFE and state governments are investing in infrastructure to keep up with demand. In Quintana Roo, Governor Mara Lezama has announced expansions of substations and modernization projects worth more than 188 million pesos. Yucatán is also working with CFE to expand capacity and reduce blackouts, with long-term goals of greater energy independence.

What You Can Do Now

Residents are encouraged to review their consumption levels, anticipate higher bills, and adjust their budgets starting November. For households in tariff 1B areas like Cancún, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum, that means keeping a close eye on the 400 kWh threshold, since going over will now be more expensive than it has been in recent months.