Tulum Residents Rally Against Skyrocketing Power Bills

A thousand signatures and a direct plea to President Claudia Sheinbaum have failed to curb skyrocketing electricity bills in Tulum, Mexico. Residents of Aldea Zama, a neighborhood in the heart of the town, report that their CFE bills have doubled in two billing cycles, with charges levied on empty apartments that exceed 4,000 pesos.

The issue is not just about the sheer cost. Microbusiness owners and residents claim that the charges are based on metering inconsistencies, as they receive bills for unoccupied properties that should not be generating usage. Even occupied properties are seeing bills increase without any change in consumption. These complaints mirror similar issues in other parts of Mexico, such as Guaymas, Sonora, and Nautla, Veracruz.

The residents sent a collective letter to President Sheinbaum on October 2, but it bounced. They have also filed amparos, which have not halted the billing process or prevented potential service suspensions. Local authorities and consumer protection agencies like Profeco have not provided a resolution. The residents are now turning to the federal level, hoping for a more substantial response.