What is the Codigo de Red?
The Codigo de Red (Grid Code) is Mexico's mandatory power quality standard, established under MR CONE DOF 31-dic-2021, enforced by the CRE (Comision Reguladora de Energia). It defines the technical requirements that all grid-connected users must meet to maintain power quality and system stability.
It applies to: Medium Tension users with demand >= 1 MW and all High Tension (Alta Tension) users. For MT users under 1 MW, only voltage and current unbalance limits apply.
Starting April 2026, the minimum acceptable power factor increases from 0.95 to 0.97. Plants that are marginally compliant today will likely fall out of compliance. This is not a monthly average — it is measured every 5 minutes.
Compliance Parameters
Seven parameters define Grid Code compliance. All must be monitored continuously with Class A instrumentation.
| Parameter | Limit | Measurement | Compliance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Factor | 0.95-1.0 (0.97 from Apr 2026) | 5-min intervals | 95% of readings |
| Voltage Unbalance | ≤2% | 10-min aggregation | P95 weekly |
| Current Unbalance | ≤15% | 10-min aggregation | P95 weekly |
| THD (DATD) | 5-20% (per Icc/IL, IEEE-519) | IEC 61000-4-30 | Class A meter |
| Voltage Range | ±5% perm, ±10% 20-min | Continuous | All levels |
| Flicker Pst | ≤1 | 10-min | P95 weekly |
| Flicker Plt | <0.8 | 2-hour | P95 weekly |
The Math: 8,640 Readings
The CdR compliance calculation is deceptively simple: 5-minute intervals, 24 hours, 30 days. Here is how it works.
The CdR requires one reading every 5 minutes. Wertek reads every 5 minutes by default — perfect alignment with the standard. You get exactly 8,640 data points per month per parameter, which is the exact dataset the CRE expects for compliance verification.
Power Factor Deep Dive
Power factor is the most scrutinized parameter in the Codigo de Red. The April 2026 change will catch many plants off guard.
Current requirement. 95% of 5-minute readings must be within range. Most industrial plants pass this with basic capacitor banks.
New requirement. The window shrinks significantly. Plants operating at 0.95-0.96 will fail compliance immediately. VFD-heavy plants are especially at risk.
This is a critical distinction. CFE bills report a monthly average power factor, which hides intra-day dips. The CdR evaluates each individual 5-minute reading. A plant averaging 0.98 but dipping to 0.94 during motor starts will accumulate violations that the CFE bill never shows.
Mexico Utility Power Factor Penalty (CFE)
CFE applies automatic surcharges or bonifications on every commercial and industrial electricity bill based on the measured power factor. This applies to ALL tariffs with demand meters — no minimum load threshold.
% Surcharge = (3/5) × ((90 / PF) - 1) × 100
% Bonification = (1/4) × (1 - (90 / PF)) × 100
Example impact on a $50,000 MXN monthly electricity bill:
| Power Factor | Surcharge / Bonif. | Impact on $50,000 MXN bill |
|---|---|---|
| 0.70 | +17.1% | +$8,571 |
| 0.80 | +7.5% | +$3,750 |
| 0.85 | +3.5% | +$1,765 |
| 0.90 | 0% | $0 |
| 0.95 | -1.3% (bonif.) | -$658 |
| 1.00 | -2.5% (bonif.) | -$1,250 |
The CFE tariff surcharge applies to ALL commercial/industrial users regardless of load size. The Codigo de Red (PF 0.97) applies only to loads >= 1 MW. A small factory with PF 0.75 won't violate CdR, but will pay 12.9% extra on every electricity bill.
International Comparison — 17 Countries
How does Mexico's Grid Code compare globally? The table below covers power factor, THD, and voltage unbalance limits across 17 countries grouped by region.
| Country | Standard | PF Min | THD-V (MV) | V Unbal | Freq | Freq Tol |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Americas (60 Hz) | ||||||
| Mexico | CRE / CdR | 0.97 | 6.5% | 2% | 60 Hz | ±0.5 Hz |
| USA | IEEE 519 | 0.85-0.95* | 5% | 3% | 60 Hz | ±0.5 Hz |
| Brazil | PRODIST Mod.8 | 0.92 | 8% | 2-3% | 60 Hz | ±0.5 Hz |
| Colombia | CREG 024/025 | 0.90 | 5% | 2-3% | 60 Hz | ±0.5 Hz |
| Chile | NTSyCS | 0.93 | 8% | 2% | 50 Hz | ±0.5 Hz |
| Peru | NTCSE | 0.96 | 6% | 2% | 60 Hz | ±0.5 Hz |
| Argentina | ENRE 527/96 | 0.95 | 6% | 2% | 50 Hz | ±0.5 Hz |
| Canada | CSA / IEEE | 0.90 | 5% | 3% | 60 Hz | ±0.5 Hz |
| Europe (50 Hz) | ||||||
| EU | EN 50160 | — | 8% | 2% | 50 Hz | ±1% |
| Germany | VDE-AR-N 4100 | 0.90 | 8% | 2% | 50 Hz | ±1% |
| Spain | RD 1955/2000 | 0.90 | 8% | 2% | 50 Hz | ±1% |
| UK | G5/5 (ENA) | 0.95 | 4.5% | 1.3% | 50 Hz | ±1% |
| Asia-Pacific & Middle East | ||||||
| India | CEA Grid Std | 0.90-0.95 | 5% | 2-3% | 50 Hz | ±0.5 Hz |
| Saudi Arabia | SAGC / SERA | 0.90 | 5% | 2% | 60 Hz | ±0.5 Hz |
| Japan | JEAC | 0.85 | 5% | 2-3% | 50/60 Hz | ±0.2 Hz |
| South Africa | NRS 048 | 0.90 | 8% | 2% | 50 Hz | ±0.5 Hz |
| Australia | AS/NZS 61000 | 0.90 | 6.5% | 2-3% | 50 Hz | ±0.5 Hz |
* USA: No federal PF mandate; 0.85-0.95 typical in utility tariffs. EU: EN 50160 is a utility obligation, not a consumer PF requirement. Color coding: red = strictest, orange = moderate, green = most relaxed.
When Does This Apply to Your Plant?
Grid code compliance is not universal — each country defines different thresholds for when regulations become mandatory. The table below shows when power quality rules apply to industrial consumers.
| Country | Rule | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico (CdR) | ≥ 1 MW, MT/AT (own substation) | Full CdR compliance (PF 0.97, THD, etc.) |
| Mexico (CFE PF) | ALL commercial/industrial (any tariff) | PF surcharge/bonification on bill |
| Brazil | ALL Group A (> 2.3 kV) | Virtually every factory |
| Peru | ALL consumers | PF 0.96, compensation mechanism |
| USA | Utility-specific, no federal mandate | Varies by interconnection agreement |
| EU (EN 50160) | Utility obligation, not consumer | Utility must deliver within limits |
| Germany | ≥ 135 kW on MV (since April 2019) | VDE-AR-N 4110 requirements |
| UK | ANY new connection with harmonic loads | G5/5 assessment required |
| India | Varies by state (typically ≥ 33 kV) | State-specific PF surcharges |
Not sure if your plant needs to comply? Ask us — we'll help you determine which regulations apply to your specific situation.
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