Another month means another utility bill landing in the mailbox. For many households, keeping an eye on these costs is a regular task. Over recent months, the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) had offered some discounts, which was a welcome change for many. Nobody enjoys paying more for a service, right? Yet, the national energy provider recently announced that some electricity bills will include extra charges this billing period.
The CFE serves customers across the country, but the costs aren’t the same everywhere. What residents in one region pay can differ greatly from what those in another region pay. This applies not only to standard rates but also to special discounts and any extra fees. These additional charges often do not apply uniformly across all cities.
If you live in Isla Mujeres, located in the state of Quintana Roo, you will notice a 5 percent increase on your electricity bill starting this month. The power company clarified that this new charge is for the Public Lighting Right, also known as DAP. This specific fee comes directly from the City Council. The CFE simply collects it and cannot remove or change this additional charge.
Historically, the Public Lighting Right was a general fee for all citizens. However, this new change adds the percentage directly to each user’s individual electricity consumption. This means that if you live in Isla Mujeres, your additional charge will be different from your neighbor’s. The exact amount depends on the total consumption listed on your bill. So, you can’t just ask your neighbor how much they paid for the DAP.
Public Reaction to New Fees
As you can imagine, the announcement from the Federal Electricity Commission did not go over well with residents in Isla Mujeres. Many citizens quickly accused the company of applying unfair and unjustified charges to their electricity bills. Others argued that the charge should be a fixed amount, applied equally to everyone, rather than being tied to the total bill.
Some local organizations even tried to get the CFE to retract the new charge. However, since the directive came from the City Council, the CFE could not reverse the decision. Therefore, all residents of Isla Mujeres will need to pay this extra cost for public street lighting. It is meant to help improve street services in the area.
Another Potential Charge
If you were feeling lucky about not living in Isla Mujeres, hold on a moment. You might still see an extra charge on your electricity bill this month. This particular additional amount applies to CFE users across the entire country, regardless of their city. It is related to service reconnection.
If you had trouble paying a previous bill and your electricity was disconnected, you would have requested that your service be turned back on after settling your payment. The cost for this reconnection usually appears on your next bill. So, this period might be when you see that fee. It is important to remember that the cost for reconnection changes based on your billing type and the number of service lines or phases. Also, keep in mind that in border cities, the cost might be lower because of a reduced Value Added Tax.