Mexico: Progress on the Strategic Plan for Strengthening and Expanding the National Electric System regarding the National Transmission Network was presented

During the conference held on August 21^st, led by the executive authority, the head of the SENER, Luz Elena González Escobar, presented the progress of the National Transmission Network (NTN) projects, which are part of the 2025–2030 Strategic Plan for Strengthening and Expanding the National Electric System (NES).

In Mexico, the provision of public electricity transmission service is an exclusive authority of the State, exercised through the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE for its acronym in Spanish). Following the latest energy reform of 2025, the concept of “binding planning” was introduced to ensure sufficient electricity to meet the country’s needs, coordinated by SENER, CFE, and other energy sector institutions.

Regarding the NTN, the head of SENER stated that binding planning aims to ensure the reliability and security of the NES, increase response capacity, interconnect isolated communities and systems, reduce energy poverty, promote regional development through access to reliable energy, connect areas with renewable resource potential to supply clean energy, and even interconnect neighboring countries through international links.

Currently, the NTN spans 111,000 kilometers nationwide and includes over 2,300 electrical substations.

During the current administration, an investment of USD$8.177 billion (approximately MXN$163.54 billion) will be allocated for the construction of 275 new transmission lines, equivalent to 6,735 circuit kilometers, and 524 new electrical substations, incorporating cutting-edge technologies in planning, operation, maintenance, monitoring, and supervision. This aims to expand the network and access to electricity, relieve network congestion (transport capacity), supply energy to industries and development hubs, and modernize and connect the country.

The Strategic Plan divides the Mexican national territory into three zones:

• Northern Zone:
  • Projects to be built (2025-2029): 69
  • Completed projects: 23
  • Purpose: Provide electricity to 6 million households (or 3,000 medium-sized factories), strengthen industry and tourism (development hubs and industrial corridors), and modernize transformers for greater efficiency and safety.
  • New transmission lines: 137
  • New substations: 247
• Central Zone:
  • Projects to be built (2025-2029): 42
  • Completed projects: 7
  • Purpose: Provide electricity to 8.5 million households (or 5,700 medium-sized factories), send surplus energy to the country's center, and prevent saturation and losses by securing industrial corridors.
  • New transmission lines: 90
  • New substations: 181
• Southern Zone:
  • Projects to be built (2025-2029): 25
  • Completed projects: 5
  • Purpose: Provide electricity to 1 million households in the southeast and peninsula area, prevent congestion (especially in Veracruz, Oaxaca, and Chiapas), and support tourist and industrial areas.
  • New transmission lines: 48
  • New substations: 96

NTN Innovation

CFE is currently working on a Smart Electric Grid (SEG) that includes:

• Remote controls for automatic flow adjustments and demand response.
• Remote monitoring and control of operational parameters for immediate fault correction.
• Over 15,000 kilometers of fiber optics.
• Over 2,000 substations and control centers.

Modernization of Existing Infrastructure

• High-temperature wires to reduce losses.
• Insulating crossarms to optimize installation or repair of transmission lines after natural disasters.
• Digital transformers for greater versatility and efficiency.
• Monitoring of overhead and underground lines.
• Digital 3D mapping and inspections for remote fault planning and repair.
• Mobile sensors on high-voltage lines to monitor vibrations or overheating due to high temperatures.