When the Lights Go Out

Power cuts are a regular feature in Mexico.  If you travel to Mexico on vacation, you’re unlikely to notice it as most hotels and resorts have power back-up systems in place; however, if you plan to live and work or retire in Mexico, you’ll come to know that power cuts are part and parcel of the living landscape here.

They can happen at anytime, although they are more frequent during the summer months, through the rainy season in particular.  Torrential thunderstoms, sometimes accompanied by high winds, have a habit of knocking out local transformers strapped to lamp-posts or at sub-stations. In the case of the former, a street or two can end up without power; if its the latter, entire neighborhoods may be affected.

Power cuts may last from a few minutes to several days.  Most of the time, they last a few hours at most.

In practical terms, power cuts may cause a plethora of inconvenient situations.  Traffic lights, for example, suddently cease to work, causing traffic jams and car accidents (which add to the congestion).  Convenience stores may have to stop trade if their sales counters are electronic: this is quite common at small franchise stores like 7-Eleven and Circle K.  You might be watching a movie at home, which just got to the good part.  Or you may be downloading something from the internet: even if your laptop keeps working, the internet router shuts down.  If you’re working in Mexico, your factory or office facilities such as computers, printers, fax machines, et al, become lifeless objects of little use.

It’s no wonder then, that UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) systems are popular in Mexico.  A UPS is, essentially, a battery in box which charges up when the power is on, and keeps electric-powered devices running for a while when the power shuts down.   Major office supply stores in Mexico (like OfficeMax) sell domestic and office-grade UPS devices which will keep computers, internet routers, printers and faxes running for between 30-120 minutes during a power cut.  Industrial-grade UPS systems, which include diesel fuel-powered generators, are available from specialist suppliers if you must have your home or office powered constantly.

If you plan to be self-employed in Mexico, perhaps working in some knowledge-based industry where your internet connection and other electronic devices must be on hand to service clients and deliver projects on time, the acquisition of an office-grade UPS device may prove a useful investment.

You can find out more about utility services, including power supply in Mexico, on our guide to House Maintenance.