Save electricity at home and understand your CFE bill

By Erick León

Guides for Mexico · Practical information

Compare consumption first, then money

A higher bill may reflect greater consumption, the length of the billing period or other charges. Identify dates, readings, billed kilowatt-hours, tariff and balance. Compare periods of similar length before concluding that an appliance failed. The price per kWh is not identical for every household or tariff condition.

Watts and kilowatt-hours are different

Power in watts describes how much an appliance draws under particular conditions; consumption also depends on time. Illustrative example: a 10-watt lamp on for five hours a day for 30 days consumes 1.5 kWh: 10 multiplied by 5 multiplied by 30, divided by 1,000. Estimating cost requires the applicable tariff; this calculation does not predict the total bill.

Start with changes you can check

Turn off unnecessary lights, use natural light and review operating times. When replacing a lamp, compare brightness and consumption, not just price. Conuee offers home efficiency and safety recommendations. Measure changes over comparable periods: no savings percentage is guaranteed for every home.

Pay attention to refrigeration and air conditioning

Check that refrigerator doors close properly and ventilation is unobstructed; follow the manufacturer’s instructions. For air conditioning, clean filters according to the manual and avoid leaving doors open while it operates. Maintenance involving electrical components should be performed by trained personnel.

Do not risk your installation for supposed savings

Do not tamper with the meter, bypass protective devices or use gadgets promising to magically reduce consumption. If there is a burning smell, sparks or abnormal heat, stop using the equipment and request a professional inspection. Saving money does not justify an unsafe connection or overloaded extension cords.

If the bill differs from what you expected

Review service details, billing period, reading and previous consumption. Record recent changes: more people at home, new appliances or longer use. If an unexplained difference remains, request clarification through CFE’s official channels and keep the case number. Do not pay people who promise to alter the charge outside the official procedure.

Sources and references

Conuee: electricity savings and safety

CFE: responsible consumption guide

Illustrative photograph: Nothing Ahead / Pexels. License.

English translation of the original article, published October 25, 2026.

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