The Baja California Sur state Congress formally called on federal energy authorities on Monday to permanently establish the 1F domestic electricity tariff across the state, a move that could lower power bills for households in La Paz, Los Cabos, Comondú, Loreto, and Mulegé.
The resolution targets three federal bodies: the Secretaría de Energía (SENER, the Secretariat of Energy), the Comisión Reguladora de Energía (CRE, the Energy Regulatory Commission), and the Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE, the Federal Electricity Commission). Legislators want BCS reclassified to the 1F tariff on a permanent basis, not just during the summer months when it currently applies.
What the 1F Tariff Means for Your Bill
Mexico’s CFE uses a tiered system of residential tariffs labeled 1 through 1F, based on average summer temperatures in each region. The 1F designation carries the highest federal subsidy and is reserved for areas where sustained extreme heat makes air conditioning a daily necessity. Under current rules, BCS receives the 1F rate only seasonally, meaning bills spike during months when the lower subsidy tiers kick in.
For context, some BCS households report bimonthly CFE bills reaching 18,000 pesos (roughly $900 USD) during peak summer months, even under the subsidized rate. Legislators argued that families across the state are forced to choose between paying electricity costs and covering food, medicine, or transportation.
Separate Push to Fix Weather Stations
State legislator Lupita Saldaña of the PAN party introduced a companion proposal calling on CFE, CONAGUA (the National Water Commission), and the Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (National Weather Service) to modernize and expand weather monitoring stations throughout BCS. The goal: ensure that temperature data used to determine tariff classifications accurately reflects conditions on the ground.
Saldaña also proposed creating an interagency technical committee to review and update the climate criteria that serve as the basis for tariff assignments. Inaccurate or outdated temperature readings from weather stations can result in a region receiving a lower subsidy tier than its actual heat conditions warrant.
What Happens Next
The congressional resolution is an “exhorto,” a formal request that carries political weight but is not legally binding on the federal government. CFE, SENER, and CRE are under no obligation to act on it. The proposal also calls for an immediate mechanism to review and resolve cases of excessive billing reported by BCS residents.
BCS faces unique energy challenges as an isolated grid not connected to Mexico’s national electrical system. Generation costs run higher than on the mainland, making the subsidy question especially pressing for the state’s residents.
The story was first reported by BCS Noticias, Tribuna de México, and Diario Humano.