Iberdrola must adhere to the new rules: Sheinbaum

When all that remains is for the Chamber of Deputies to declare the constitutionality of the reform to the Magna Carta on energy matters, President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that the secretariat of the branch and the Federal Electricity Commission are already preparing the National Energy Plan, which includes the regulation of the participation of the private initiative, which in the electricity market will have a participation of up to 46 percent, but without the advantages granted by the 2013 reform.

The president highlighted that this week the finality of the constitutional reform must be approved in San Lázaro for its publication in the Official Gazette of the Federation. This constitutional reform is very important, it is returning the people of Mexico to Pemex and the Federal Electricity Commission; It is, to a certain extent, a reversal of part of the privatization of Pemex and CFE that was suffered with the 2013 reform.

With it, the character of public companies is restored and that of State productive companieswhich placed them at a disadvantage compared to private companies. However, this does not cancel the possibility of private investment in the energy sector, but on the premise that the CFE will have 54 percent of the market to guarantee economic rates.

–Will there be greater surveillance on companies like Iberdrola?

–More than surveillance, clear rules that help the private sector, that help the public system and that generally help the nation and the public service that we all receive.

Sheinbaum explained that with the 2013 reform, privileged access was given to the energy production of private companies under the logic that they provided renewable energy, which also allowed them not to pay transmission rights in the electrical system.

The problem with renewable energy is that generation from both solar and wind is intermittent, he said. But the electrical system must receive constant energy.

With the reform, the operating rules of private companies will be modified: they will no longer be able to enter at any time or under any circumstance to avoid these technical problems. The new rules stipulate that these companies must have battery banks and a system that guarantees that the voltage will be constant.

He stressed that the new planning seeks growth in generation, but that means that the CFE must generate more electricity, and part of it with renewable sources.