CFE Accelerates Grid Upgrades to Meet Baja California Demand

Federal authorities are fast-tracking upgrades to Baja California’s electricity infrastructure amid heightened demand this summer, with CFE leadership presenting an emergency response plan in Mexicali on Wednesday.

Following instructions from President Claudia Sheinbaum, CFE Director General Emilia Calleja met with state governor Marina del Pilar Ávila to outline measures designed to stabilize electricity supply. The plan includes 284 strategic actions targeting transmission lines, of which 72 have already been completed, representing 25% progress.

Among the priorities are tree trimming, aerial patrols, thermal inspections, and isolation cleaning. Additional work in substation maintenance, ranging from weed clearing to fauna protection, has reached 42% completion. Distribution network upgrades are also underway, with 1,540 out of 2,791 planned activities completed as of July 12.

Calleja highlighted that many service interruptions stem from faulty equipment, vandalism, fauna interference, and even vehicle collisions. In response, CFE has deployed 236 electricians across 75 task groups to Mexicali, supported by a centralized monitoring center and two distribution control facilities.

The governor praised CFE’s swift coordination. Reported outages and maintenance requests have dropped 41% over recent weeks, signaling early improvements in service continuity as summer peaks.