Power outages in Tijuana and Playas de Rosarito have become increasingly frequent in recent days, driven by two primary factors: extreme heat and residential and commercial growth.
On September 9, temperatures in Tijuana surpassed 40°C (104°F), triggering a surge in electricity demand. The strain ultimately affected the State Commission of Public Services of Tijuana (CESPT), which reported intermittent water service across several areas of the city.
The agency said it is working in coordination with the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) to address the situation, noting that electrical failures have halted the operation of pumping equipment and disrupted water supply in several areas.
Shortages have been reported mainly in the upper areas of both Tijuana and Rosarito, where water supply depends on these electric pumps.
A few weeks ago, Kurt Honold Morales, head of Baja California’s Secretariat of Economy and Innovation, attributed electrical grid saturation to the region’s residential and commercial expansion, causing the blackouts.
To address the issue, Honold said authorities are preparing to build two additional CFE plants: one in Zona Río and another in Valle Redondo to relieve the burden on existing substations.
Honold identified La Cacho and Chapultepec as some of the most affected neighborhoods and pointed to cable theft in Downtown Tijuana as an additional factor contributing to supply failures.
What to Do If Your Power Goes Out
Residents experiencing an outage should contact CFE and have their service number on hand. Those without water should file a report with CESPT using their account number.
CFE
- Phone: Dial 071 (free, available 24 hours)
- WhatsApp: Message +52 55 4195 7878
- Mobile app: CFE Contigo App
CESPT
- Phone: Dial 073 (or (664) 622-6000 from outside the city)
- WhatsApp: Message 664-694-8888
