I was told today that there will be a protest Wednesday against the apparent reduction of subsidies of the electric charges for residential customers. Most of us enjoy significant savings off the max rate for electricity as a result of the CFEs practice of subsidizing the initial KWH used each billing period On an unrelated issue, two condos in our complex are classified "tarifa 02", which appears to be a commercial rate, and very expensive. It says it's for users who consume less than 25 KW, at peak usage. I have no idea why residences would be classified this way, and it works a serious disadvantage for the people living there. _________________________ Everybody knows that CFE rates are among the highest in the developed world, and one of the main reasons, here in Mexico, is theft of about 1/3 of all electricity supplied, according to CFE accounts of it. Attitudes need to change regarding this, because Mexicans seem to think it's perfectly OK to steal, as long as it's from the government. Problem is, that cost has to be passed onto everyone who actually pays for their electricity, like most of the readers of this forum! __________________________
V: I dont get why they make it SO easy for people to hook onto a "neighbors" cable... People certainly has to change their attitude, but CFE has to do that as well, first of all by seizing all the blackmailing they do on a daily basis. They tried to pull that crap on me a while ago. Funny, as they were chatting in Spanish, saying "this is how you do it". Their jaws dropped when I replied in.... Spanish, telling them I "heard it all". When I asked for their names and employment numbers, they just said "todo esta bien, señor" and took off. Maybe serious penalties on those who do cheat? Maybe make it easier to report the CFE workers that extort people? 2 birds with one stone "Why cant we all get along?"
We've talked before on this forum about how electric bills coming in November can be a bit of a shock- they're just more of a shock this time! The bill that came in September had a subsidized amount of 900 KWH while this latest bill had a subsidized amount of only 255 KWH for the two month billing period: most users would have exceeded this very modest allowance and were paying the max rate of just over two and a half pesos per KWH for much of the electricity they used from mid Sept through mid Nov Because of this even though the weather was cooler the electric bill for November could have been just as large or even larger than the previous one
The protests are to be expected. After many years of subsidies, it's hard to accept that they are being taken away. e.g. Greece, EU, Occupy everything. I know we are far away from the socialist countries and welfare states and unbalanced budgets that are quite publicly going broke and causing havoc in the world markets and the worlds streets BUT how long do we think that subsidies can even be permitted, let alone protected? Prediales are going up this year. No doubt there will be protests there too. Most of the complainers will be people who pay no property tax and the ones who do pay´, pay much less than $1000 pesos a year. And are the same ones who want the streets fixed and more police protection. Now the tenencia is gone as of Jan. 1. Governments get money from people who pay taxes. Not from people who don't and certainly not by eliminating taxes or subsidizing corrupt and inefficient government enterprises like Pemex and CFE. Pemex is #1! Number 1 in being the most indebted company in the world. And they need to be doing more drilling and more processing, not less I know it is fashionable to be against taxes--especially in countries where corruption abounds--and in favor of subsidies and more government paid for services but we all know that won't work for long. And if there is any doubt, the USA and EU can remind us. Gasoline/petrol keeps going up despite the protests and my guess is that the other taxes will also continue creep up. They have to or the government will not have money to continue to provide the minimum of services, tolerate the gross inefficiency and have enough left to pay for the endemic corruption necessary to keep the wheels of government turning. What kind of government? Well, to paraphrase, we will have the kind of government we deserve.
One of my neighbors, who had used just 282 KWH of electricity in the previous billing period but nearly 1,600 this last billing period, has been billed just over 5,000 pesos for it. (Frankly, it looks like someone may have started stealing his electricity.) The neighbor who got caught stealing electricity from the CFE, by disabling the meter, has now been billed for 109,000 pesos. His electricity was cut immediately after he was caught, and has not been turned back on in the several months since.
You're right, of course, Jim, speaking generally; but, the subsidies offered by the CFE have two commendable social aims in mind. The first is to directly benefit the very poor, who use very small amounts of electricity each month but for whom every peso is important. The second is to directly encourage conservation, among those of us who would use more. Those who watch their electric consumption closely are rewarded if they can stay below the threshholds set by the CFE. Those who do not, pay more for the excess consumption, and the balance is restored. The biggest drain on the project is simple, straightforward theft of service, which is rampant and is estimated to account for 30% of the electricity consumed, according to official statements. ____________________________ On a personal note, I was concerned that, when we moved to a new place, with 40% more floor space, high ceilings, and lots of glass, that our expenses for a/c would jump. We got a pleasant surprise. After almost a year's experience with it I can say our consumption is actually about 15% less, now, than it was at our last place. Our biggest bill, for the two hottest months was just about 1,400 pesos, using our a/c many hours a day.
