Mexico power quality issues impact SME operations

Irregular electricity quality, including voltage variations, micro-interruptions, and phase imbalances, is increasing operational costs for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Mexico. According to Tripp Lite series Eaton, these issues can cause machinery failures, process stoppages, and wasted supplies even when a total blackout does not occur.

Throughout 2026, the electrical system has faced various disturbances such as transformer failures, overloads, weather phenomena, and vandalism. A recent incident involving damage to 400 kV transmission lines in the southeast caused outages in Chiapas, Quintana Roo, Yucatán, and Campeche. While the CFE reported full service restoration, the event has renewed discussions regarding grid reliability.

The impact is particularly measurable in industrial hubs. In Querétaro, the industry has documented 165 voltage variation events so far this year, affecting the automotive, aerospace, data center, logistics, and advanced manufacturing sectors. According to the 2025 National Survey of Quality and Government Impact (ENCIG), electricity availability levels in Campeche and Yucatán stand at 77.2% and 77.9%, respectively.