CFE Electricity Bill Explained: Tariffs, DAC and How to Pay
How to read a CFE bill in Mexico City, why it can suddenly jump to the high-consumption DAC tariff, how to get back, and how to pay and report outages.
The Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) bills Mexico City homes every two months. Household tariffs are subsidized up to a consumption limit; on Tariff 1, the limit is an average of 250 kWh a month over the last 12 months. Above it, CFE moves the account to the high-consumption DAC tariff (Doméstica de Alto Consumo), which has no subsidy.
What is on a CFE bill?
A CFE household bill covers a two-month period (periodo bimestral) and shows these key items:
| Item on the bill | What it means |
|---|---|
| Número de servicio | Your service number, printed at the top right; you need it for payments and reports |
| Tarifa | Your tariff code, such as 1 or DAC |
| Lectura actual / anterior | Current and previous meter readings; the difference is your consumption |
| Consumo (kWh) | Energy used in the period, split into price blocks |
| Historial de consumo | Your consumption in previous periods, used for the 12-month average |
| Fecha límite de pago | Payment due date; after it, CFE can cut the service |
The bill also states the account holder’s name and the address. The CFE bill is one of the documents accepted as proof of address for city procedures, such as the Mexico City driver’s license.
Which tariff applies in Mexico City?
CFE assigns household tariffs by the local climate: tariffs 1A to 1F apply to places with hot summers and carry higher subsidized limits. Mexico City’s mild climate puts most homes on Tariff 1, which has the lowest limit before DAC. Your bill shows the code next to Tarifa.
Within Tariff 1, the price per kWh rises in blocks: a basic block, an intermediate block and an excess block. The more you use in a period, the more each extra kWh costs, even before you reach DAC.
Why did my bill suddenly jump?
The most common reason for a sharp jump is reclassification to DAC. CFE compares your average monthly consumption over a rolling year, the last 365 billed days, with the limit for your tariff. On Tariff 1, that limit is 250 kWh a month, or about 500 kWh per two-month bill.
- If your 12-month average goes above the limit, CFE moves you to DAC.
- DAC prices every kWh at a much higher, unsubsidized rate plus a fixed monthly charge.
- One heavy period can push the average up for months, because it stays in the 12-month window.
Other causes are an estimated reading (lectura estimada) when the meter was not read, a fault in the wiring that leaks power, or a change of tenant habits, such as running an electric water heater or space heaters in winter. CFE corrects estimated bills once it takes a real reading, and it publishes a procedure for refunds when an estimate was too high.
How do you get back from DAC to the subsidized tariff?
You get back by lowering consumption until your rolling 12-month average falls below 250 kWh a month again. Because the average looks back a full year, recovery takes several billing periods of low use. Practical steps:
- Check the consumption history on recent bills to find the periods that pushed you over.
- Replace electric water heaters and space heaters, the biggest loads in most apartments, or limit their use.
- Look for appliances that run all day, such as old refrigerators or pumps, and check whether a pump for the building’s water is wired to your meter.
- If consumption seems impossible for your home, ask CFE to check the meter; it has a meter review procedure.
How do you pay the bill and report an outage?
You can pay through CFE’s website and its CFE Contigo app, at CFE service centers, and at banks and stores that accept CFE payments, using the service number. Paying late can lead to disconnection; after a cut, you pay the balance plus a reconnection fee and call CFE to report the payment.
For outages, call CFE at 071, which works 24 hours a day, or use the CFE website or app. CFE asks for the service number, meter number and account holder’s name, and the report is free. Before calling, check your own breaker and fuses; CFE does not take reports for faults inside the home or for accounts suspended for nonpayment.
Can you change the name on the contract?
Yes, at a CFE customer service center (Centro de Atención a Clientes). Bring official ID and proof that you own or occupy the property, and ask the center for its current document list. Many landlords keep the contract in their own name and pass the bill to the tenant. That is common and legal, but it means only the owner can make some changes, so agree in the lease who handles CFE.
If you are comparing apartments, ask for the last few bills. They show the tariff, typical consumption and whether the unit is already on DAC. Our cost of living guide puts electricity in the context of other monthly bills.
Bottom line
Read the tariff code and the consumption history on your first bill. If you are near 500 kWh per two-month period on Tariff 1, cut heater use before the average tips you into DAC, and ask any landlord for recent bills before signing a lease.
FAQ
How often does CFE bill households?
Every two months for most homes. The bill shows the period, the readings and the due date.
What does DAC mean on my CFE bill?
DAC stands for Doméstica de Alto Consumo, the high-consumption household tariff. It applies when your 12-month average passes your tariff’s limit, and it has no subsidy.
Who do I call for a power cut?
Call CFE at 071, available 24 hours a day, with your service number. CFE says it attends urban outages within 10 hours at most.
