Hilos Hi, Mixz1. Thanks for the info about tariffs in the HZ. I've wondered about "hilos", myself. Could it mean, "two lines" or even, "two phase"? We're wired, here, for both 110 and 220 Volts, and our bill also reads as yours does.
Take this with a grain of salt, but from what I've understood by asking around it means your residence is supplied with 2 main lines of power from the central source, allowing for higher peak capacity. The only residences I've seen that have less than 2 hilos are very, very small residences that appear rather old. Across the street from us, the 1600 square foot luxury loft has 3 hilos listed on the bill. Seems to make sense?? As for Playa (and Puerto Morales) being 1-B and not 1-C like Cancun, it is technically based on average climate. Maybe we are slightly cooler than Cancun, but it would have to be ever so slightly IMHO. Definitely not enough to justify losing 500 kW/h of usage in subsidies per billing period. Even with the higher electricity rate though, we've found we can stay cool and our electric bills are still the same or less than back in the US, so I guess we can't really complain.
I'm pretty sure that 2 hilos means 220 and 1 hilo means 110, that's all. Lots of older houses here have 110 coming in. And you have to ask CFE to add that 2nd hilo.
That makes the most sense, but what would a 3 mean?? The loft across the street has a 3 under hilos on the bill -- it has a massive outdoor hot tub but I assume that would just use 220. I can't think of anything else I saw in it which would have a bigger draw (and would be surprised if you could even have more than a 220 hookup in a non-commercial residence.)
3 hilos... is 220v "3 phase" (as opposed to standard 220v which is called "single phase") used for certain equipment and air conditioners.. I think the point of having that 3rd line on some 220v applications, is to make it more efficient, although I couldn't tell you exactly why that works... something about allowing for a greater "down" alternation in the alternating current (AC)...
I have always heard that 3 phase is because there are 3 "hot" wires plus the ground wire. Each hot wire delivers 110 volts. Supposedly the 3 wires are thinner than the single phase 220 volts and therefore the equipment runs more efficiently. At least that's what my buddy tells me.
Just looked it up..... Basically provides for more balanced power for certain electric motors... Here is the technical mobojumbo for those interested.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_phase_power
Interestingly enough, plastered all over the news tonight is the announcement that the CFE has just closed down Luz y Fuerza, an energy provider in Puebla (and other places) for illegal acts -- I haven't deciphered what that entails yet. The CFE is going to take over electricity distribution in the affected areas and is giving all of the employees now without jobs (except for the high level managers) severance pay. I actually didn't realize you could get electricity in Mexico from any place but the CFE; of course now maybe you can't.
I'm sure I'm not the only one to get this email from CFE. This is the tarifa chart for domestic 1-C use. Let's compare.
Looks about right.. unless you use less than 350 KW every TWO months, which is next to impossible, expect the bill to double. If they billed monthly everyone's bill would be a lot less, but since they go for the bi-monthly scheme, its hard to avoid creeping into the higher price bracket, which of'course is by design. :evil:
