Blackouts in Yucatán Continue as CFE Schedules New Power Cuts

A summer of blackouts in Yucatán will extend into Monday as the Federal Electricity Commission schedules power cuts for 16 coastal communities. The planned blackouts will run from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., though CFE said the work might take less than eight hours.

Temperatures along the coast are expected to reach almost 90°F / 32°C under sunny skies. Residents will be relying on Gulf breezes to stay cool.

The scheduled blackouts affect Progreso and surrounding areas. CFE said the work connects a new substation and modernizes the electrical system in response to ongoing power cuts that have plagued the region.

The announcement follows weeks of unplanned blackouts across Yucatán. Some neighborhoods in Mérida and Campeche have experienced frequent and prolonged power failures, leaving residents without electricity, clean water, or basic services. In southern Mérida, residents of the Zazil-Há and Cinco Colonias neighborhoods have endured constant Yucatán blackouts for two weeks, lasting several hours at a time.

Blackouts in Yucatán Follow Regional Pattern

Yucatán’s frequent blackouts, brownouts and appliance-killing power surges reflect chronic electrical infrastructure challenges that stretch back years. In May 2024, blackouts hit 21 of Mexico’s 32 states, forcing the National Energy Control Center to declare emergency conditions multiple times. Blackouts in Yucatán weren’t spared from the national crisis.

The CFE electrical network is stressed due to excessive demand for supply to mitigate the extreme heat that prevails during Yucatán blackouts. Local experts say the blackouts in Yucatán require long-term fixes. Dr. Rubén Domínguez Maldonado from Anáhuac Mayab University told reporters that without scheduled blackouts, heat damage to lines and transformers would create more expensive repairs and longer Yucatán blackouts.

Residents report Yucatán blackouts occurring daily and lasting anywhere from a few hours to 14 hours. The persistent have pushed some communities to protest. Residents decided to close Calle 50A from 119 to 131, in protest after weeks of unreliable power and recurring Yucatán blackouts.

Political Response Draws Criticism

President Claudia Sheinbaum’s June visit to Yucatán sparked controversy over her comments about the blackouts in Yucatán. She declared that “the opposition’s campaign about the lack of electricity in Yucatán is not in line with reality, since there is sufficient infrastructure.”

Her statement contrasted sharply with residents’ experiences of Yucatán blackouts. In communities like Cheumán, families with babies struggle to store milk and food for their children during extended blackouts in Yucatán. Local researcher Gina Villagómez Valdés documented cases where residents have been without power for days, with blackouts damaging their electrical appliances.

CFE has announced multiple infrastructure projects over the years to address blackouts in Yucatán with mixed results. In 2019, President López Obrador promised a new power plant during a Yucatan tour, declaring it would ensure “there will never be any blackouts” in the state. However, energy sector experts noted that this promised plant was not part of CFE’s strategic plan to address Yucatán’s frequent power failures.

CFE has invested over 151 billion pesos to improve energy supply and reduce blackouts in Yucatán, including plans for two combined-cycle power plants in Mérida and Valladolid. The plants were originally scheduled to begin operations by summer 2024 to help end Yucatán blackouts, but delays pushed timelines into the future.

The Yucatán state government now works with CFE on a plan to eliminate blackouts by 2027 and achieve energy self-sufficiency by 2030. Governor Joaquín Díaz Mena acknowledged that “Yucatán is facing a complex energy situation, especially during this season of extreme heat” that contributes to blackouts in Yucatán.

National Investment Plans Target Blackouts

The Mexican government presented a National Strategy for the Electricity Sector 2024-2030, planning to invest $23 billion in CFE to address nationwide power issues including Yucatán blackouts. CFE’s 2025-2030 plan includes 12 new power plants with combined capacity of 5,840MW across nine states. However, Yucatán isn’t among the states getting new generation facilities to directly combat blackouts in Yucatán.

To prepare for increased demand during summer 2025 and reduce blackouts in Yucatán, capacitor banks will be installed in seven substations in northern Quintana Roo, representing an investment of 194.39 million pesos ($9.32 million).

Beyond generation capacity, Yucatán blackouts stem from fundamental infrastructure problems. Aging infrastructure and “a mess of ancient wiring” continues to cause blackouts in Yucatán, with haphazardly installed power, telephone, and fiber optic lines characterizing most streets. CFE employees revealed that Yucatán blackouts during the hot season are inevitable due to overloaded connections in new subdivisions.

The communities affected by Monday’s scheduled blackouts include Progreso, Chelem, Chicxulub Puerto, Chuburná Puerto, Dzidzilché, San Ignacio, Misné Balam, Flamboyanes, Santa María Chí, Tamanché, Cosgaya, Komchén, Suytunchén, Kikteil, Xcunyá and Sierra Papacal.

CFE Director General Emilia Esther Calleja Alor recently visited the state and pledged to provide advance notice of future scheduled blackouts to help residents prepare for planned Yucatán blackouts. The commission emphasized these actions “seek to improve the energy infrastructure for the benefit of residents” and businesses in the coastal area affected by recurring blackouts in Yucatán.

For international visitors and residents, the ongoing Yucatán blackouts represent a significant infrastructure concern in a region that depends heavily on tourism and economic development. The peninsula covers roughly 70,000 square miles (181,000 square kilometers) and includes popular destinations like Cancún, Mérida, and the Riviera Maya, all affected by periodic blackouts.