CFE Prepares for Hurricane Season by Introducing New Technology

Mexico is preparing for hurricane season in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) has outlined a strategy for before, during and after the natural phenomena, which includes the introduction of state-of-the-art technology. 

CFE presented the material, technical and human resources it has allocated to the restoration of electricity supply affected by natural phenomena during the 2023 National Hurricane Meeting, held in Santa Maria Tonameca, Oaxaca. CFE reported that for the national territory’s emergency care, the commission operates and maintains infrastructure with electricity coverage that exceeds 99%.

CFE carries out actions in all its operational processes that evaluate possible damages to electrical infrastructure, before, during and after the passage of a natural phenomenon. The commission also highlighted that electricity supply for hospitals, water systems and homes is prioritized.

The commission can mobilize 17,000 workers and has 6,438 vehicles, 674 emergency plants, 19 large-capacity plants, 90 mobile substations, 88 CFE Distribution Control Centers, 111 CFE Transmission Operation Centers, 46 lighting towers, 113 emergency warehouses and 1,082 Customer Service Centers to attend emergencies. 

CFE implanted technological innovations in 2019 with the first CFE brand Master Central Unit, which is a control and supervision system of the electric network. Currently, CFE has installed nine of those units in addition to 198 satellite communication services for reporting damages and coordinating restoration activities. CFE has also implemented seven communications units for Emergency Attention (UCAE) and pole-type repeaters for guaranteed communication. The Strategic Emergency Response Communications System also operates with satellite communication.

The commission’s strategy consists of five steps to address the chaos caused by natural phenomena: deployment of personnel in the affected areas; installation of shelters for personnel, equipment and helicopters; ground and air inspections to assess and quantify the affectations; management of materials, equipment, tools and supplies necessary in the affected areas and provisional restoration works of the RNT with the use of Emergency Modular Structures.

César Fuentes Estrada, Corporate Director, Electrical Infrastructure Projects (DCIPI), explained that state-of-the-art technology can anticipate the arrival of meteorological phenomena. Fuentes highlighted the importance of the Georeferenced Electrical System, Satellite Monitoring for Hurricanes and the capacity for contact with certified and experienced contracting companies and emergency warehouses.