You visit your local CFE office with your ID, proof of address, and a prepared electrical installation. CFE connects service within 3 to 5 days and charges no hookup fee beyond a refundable deposit.
What Is CFE?
CFE (Comision Federal de Electricidad) is Mexico’s national electric utility. It is a government monopoly. Every home, business, and streetlight in Baja runs on CFE power. There is no choosing a provider. You get CFE or you get candles.
Getting CFE service is one of the first steps after signing a lease or closing on a property in Baja. The process is straightforward if you bring the right documents. Without them, you waste a morning.
Do You Need to Put CFE in Your Name?
If you buy property, yes. The account should match the property owner. If you rent, it depends. Many landlords keep CFE in their name and include electricity in the rent or bill you separately. Others prefer the tenant to transfer the account.
Having CFE in your name matters beyond electricity. Your CFE bill (recibo de luz) is one of the most accepted forms of proof of address (comprobante de domicilio) in Mexico. Banks, INM, IMSS, and the SAT all accept it. If the CFE bill is in your landlord’s name, some offices will not accept it as yours.
What Documents Do You Need?
For a new service connection (alta de servicio), CFE requires a valid official photo ID. Your passport or Mexican residency card works. A phone number and email address. The complete address of the property, including street, number, colonia, and postal code.
For a name change on an existing account (cambio de titular), you also need a copy of the previous account holder’s last CFE bill. The previous holder does not need to be present, but their account must be current with no outstanding balance.
Foreigners do not need an RFC (tax ID) to open a residential CFE account. Some CFE employees may ask for one. They are mistaken. If pushed, you can provide your home country tax ID or Social Security number as an alternative identifier.
How Do You Apply for New Service?
You can start the process online at app.cfe.mx or by calling 071, CFE’s national service line. The online portal lets you enter your address, personal data, and requested service type. However, most expats in Baja find it easier to visit the CFE office in person.
At the office, take a number and wait. Bring all documents plus photocopies. The clerk enters your information, verifies the property address against CFE’s records, and processes the request. You pay a deposit (deposito de garantia) that varies by service type but typically runs $500 to $1,500 pesos for residential service. This deposit is refundable when you cancel service.
CFE requires that the property’s electrical installation meets current safety standards. The nearest utility pole must be within 35 meters in urban areas or 50 meters in rural areas. If your property already had service, this is not an issue. For new construction, you need a certified electrician to prepare the installation first.
Once approved, CFE installs the meter and connects service within 3 business days in urban areas and 5 days in rural areas.
Where Are the CFE Offices in Baja California?
In Tijuana, the main CFE customer service center is on Boulevard Diaz Ordaz 12649, Colonia El Paraiso, C.P. 22106. Open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Arrive early. The line builds fast after 9:00 a.m.
In Ensenada, the CFE office is on Calle Novena 480, Zona Centro, C.P. 22800. Same hours. Parking is limited on the surrounding streets.
In Rosarito, the office is on Boulevard Benito Juarez 300, Colonia Reforma. Smaller office, shorter lines, but the same services.
Where Are the CFE Offices in Baja California Sur?
In La Paz, the CFE office is on Calle Revolucion de 1910 and Avenida Abasolo, Centro, C.P. 23000. Open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
In Cabo San Lucas, the CFE service center is on Calle Leona Vicario between Lazaro Cardenas and Morelos, Centro. Los Cabos has experienced rapid growth, and CFE service requests can take slightly longer during peak building season.
How Does CFE Billing Work?
CFE bills every two months (bimestral). Your bill arrives as a paper slip in your meter box and is also available online at cfe.mx. The bill shows your meter reading, consumption in kilowatt-hours (kWh), the applicable tariff, and the total owed.
You can pay at any CFE office, at OXXO convenience stores, at banks (Bancomer, Banamex, Banorte), through the CFE app, or online at cfe.mx. OXXO is the easiest option. Walk in, hand the cashier your bill, pay cash, and get a receipt. Takes two minutes.
Pay on time. CFE charges late fees and will cut your power if the bill goes unpaid. Reconnection requires paying the balance plus a reconnection fee.
How Do Electricity Rates Work in Baja?
CFE assigns residential customers a tariff based on the average summer temperature in their area. Hotter areas get higher consumption limits before rates spike. This matters enormously in Baja because of air conditioning.
Most of Baja California (Tijuana, Ensenada, Rosarito) falls under Tarifa 1C, with a subsidized limit of 850 kWh per month. Mexicali, one of Mexico’s hottest cities, gets Tarifa 1F with a limit of 2,500 kWh per month. Baja California Sur (La Paz, Los Cabos) falls under Tarifa 1E with a limit of 2,000 kWh per month.
Below the limit, you pay subsidized rates. Government subsidies keep the cost manageable. Summer subsidies kick in from May through October in Baja, reducing rates further during the hottest months when air conditioning use peaks.
What Is DAC and Why Should You Care?
DAC stands for Domestica de Alto Consumo. High Consumption Domestic. If your average monthly consumption over 12 months exceeds your tariff’s limit, CFE reclassifies you to DAC. This is the penalty tariff.
Under DAC, you lose all government subsidies. The rate jumps to $6.20 to $7.80 pesos per kWh. That is roughly triple the subsidized rate. A monthly bill that was $800 pesos becomes $2,400 pesos or more.
Expats hit DAC more often than locals because they run air conditioning harder. In Mexicali, where summer temperatures top 45 degrees Celsius, this is a real risk. In coastal areas like Ensenada or La Paz, the climate is milder and DAC is less of a concern.
How Do You Avoid DAC?
Know your limit. Check your tariff classification on your CFE bill. Track your consumption each billing period. If you are approaching the threshold, reduce usage before you trigger the 12-month average that pushes you over.
Set your air conditioning to 24 degrees Celsius. Seal doors and windows. Service your AC unit regularly. Dirty filters and refrigerant leaks increase consumption dramatically. Run high-demand appliances during cooler hours.
Solar panels are the most effective long-term solution. CFE offers net metering (interconexion) for residential solar installations. The energy your panels produce offsets your consumption on the CFE meter. Many expats in Mexicali and Los Cabos install solar specifically to stay under the DAC threshold.
What About Power Outages?
Baja California’s grid is more stable than much of mainland Mexico. Tijuana and Ensenada experience occasional outages, usually during high-demand summer periods or when Santa Ana winds damage lines. Outages typically last one to four hours.
Baja California Sur has a separate, smaller grid. La Paz and Los Cabos experience more frequent outages, particularly during hurricane season (June through November). Tropical storms can knock out power for 12 to 48 hours.
Report outages to CFE by calling 071. The automated system lets you report by entering your service number (numero de servicio) from your bill. CFE’s outage reporting works in Spanish only.
If you live in BCS or rural BC, invest in a backup generator or an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for electronics. Many expats in Todos Santos and East Cape consider a generator essential.
What Mistakes Do Expats Make with CFE?
Not reading the meter. Your CFE bill shows the meter reading, but CFE meter readers sometimes estimate instead of reading. Check the physical meter against the bill. Dispute errors at the CFE office within 30 days.
Running AC at 18 degrees all summer. This is the fastest path to DAC. Every degree below 24 increases consumption significantly.
Ignoring the bill. CFE cuts power with less warning than you are used to from U.S. utilities. Two missed billing periods and the meter comes off the wall.
Not getting a comprobante early. If you need your CFE bill as proof of address for other government processes, get the account in your name first.
Regulations and government processes change. This article reflects information current as of March 2026. For advice specific to your situation, consult a licensed immigration consultant or contact the relevant government office directly.