andy

Here is some information regarding how CFE (the electric company in Tijuana) charges for electricity.

CFG bills it's customers bi-monthly. CFE bills in three rate tiers. 0 - 150 kWh at the lowest rate, 150 - 250 kWh at an intermediate rate, and > 250 KWh at a much higher rate (double the intermediate rate).

The first 250 kWh of electricity is subsidized by the Mexican government. This subsidy helps out people who don't consume much electricity each month (small homes, apartments, and people who conserve). Unfortunately, there is a concept called "alto consumo" that occurs if you use more than 500 kWh, bi-monthly, of electricity over an average of one year (or more than 6000 kWh in a year). If you are a high consumer, you lose the government subsidy and pay much higher rates for all of your electricity usage. Once you get on the "alta consumo" rates, it is very difficult to get back to the lower rates since you need to reduce usage enough to lower your average usage to under 500 kWh bi-monthly, for one year.

Recent electric rates (December 2010, sorry can't seem to locate my February 2011 bill):

0 - 150 kWh .707 pesos per kWh (6 cents USD per kWh at 11.8 pesos per USD)
150 - 250 kWh 1.177 pesos per kWh (10 cents USD per kWh)
over 250 kWh 2.489 pesos per kWh (21 cents USD per kWh)

As you can see, the electric rates are over twice as expensive once you are over 250 kWh bi-monthly. When you are on the lower, government subsidized rates you pay $19 USD for the first 250 kWh. If you are on "alta consumo" this same 250 kWh cost you $52.50 USD since everything is billed at the highest rate. So you are penalized $33.50, every 2 months, of $201 per year if you use average over 500 kWh bi-monthly over a year and end up on "alta consumo". Well worth conserving electricity to stay under 500 kWh, bi-monthly. Even better if you can average under 250 kWh bi-monthly.