In the cities of Guasave and Mazatlán, complaints regarding excessive electricity rates have prompted groups of users to stage protests at the Commission’s offices in Mazatlán, demanding a review of charges and threatening to block work crews from leaving to carry out residential service disconnections.
Just four days ago, electricity users—angered by the high charges imposed upon them by the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE)—appeared at a session of the State Congress carrying banners. They petitioned the legislators to intervene, requesting that the current subsidy be extended for an additional month and that their billing charges be reviewed.
In Guasave, a small group gathered at the CFE offices to lodge complaints after discovering that the consumption charges on their latest bills had tripled. Consequently, they positioned themselves at the entrance gates to block the movement of maintenance personnel, fearing that work crews were about to begin carrying out power disconnections.
The protesters stated that they have received no response to their grievances, despite having brought along all their past bills—which document their consumption history over the last several years—to demonstrate that their consumption rates had indeed tripled this month.
In Mazatlán, the situation was much the same: residential electricity users converged on the CFE offices demanding an explanation for the exorbitant charges appearing on their bills, given that their actual energy consumption levels remained identical to those of the previous year.
During last Thursday’s session of the 65th Legislature, users demanded the intervention of local lawmakers to secure a minimum subsidy period of seven months, as well as a comprehensive review of the current rates being levied against them.
Holding up their most recent electricity bills—which clearly showed that their payments had doubled compared to the same period last year—they demanded that the state-owned utility company provide a full explanation for this excessive hike in rates. Leticia Quintero—who identified herself as the leader of hundreds of citizens whose financial well-being has been jeopardized by disproportionately skyrocketing electricity bills—called upon local legislators to put an end to abusive rate practices.
She noted that, despite the fact that a six-month summer subsidy—equivalent to the “IF” rate—has been in effect since May for several years now, recent charges have more than doubled compared to last year’s bills.
Teresa Guerra Ochoa, President of the State Congress’s Political Coordination Board, stated that Acting Governor Yeraldine Bonilla Valverde recently met with the Superintendent of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) to convey the growing number of complaints.
She explained that, according to information they have received, the CFE was unable to access certain communities—particularly in rural areas—during previous months to read electricity meters. Consequently, charges accumulated, and when the subsequent billing adjustments were finally made, the amounts owed surged.
However, she indicated that a formal request was submitted to the agency several weeks ago, seeking a comprehensive report on the current situation regarding the increased charges for residential electricity consumption.
Source: eluniversal
