Mexico: Publication of the Electric Sector Development Plan, regulation on binding planning, and a call for priority attention to new power generation projects

On October 17, 2025, the Ministry of Energy (SENER) published the following documents in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF), related to binding planning in the electric sector and the development of new priority projects:

• Resolution by which SENER issues the PLADESE

PLADESE is the planning instrument for the energy sector issued by SENER, with a medium and long-term vision for the development and modernization of electric infrastructure, with a 15-year outlook and annual updates.

It serves as the strategic and operational basis for the orderly development of the electric sector and binding planning. According to the Electric Sector Law, binding planning must ensure the reliability, continuity, and accessibility of public electricity service, preserve national energy sovereignty and security, and promote sector expansion, decarbonization, and the country’s economic and industrial development.

Key elements of PLADESE include:

• A diagnosis of the electric sector (including trends in final consumption and electricity demand, as well as capacity and generation evolution).
• A planning scenario for 2025–2039.
• Investment programs and plans (including installation and retirement of power plants, and expansion and modernization of electric grids).

Full PLADESE available here.

• General administrative provisions for binding planning in electric power generation

These provisions aim to establish the binding planning criteria that the National Energy Commission (CNE) must consider when evaluating and granting electric power generation permits under the Electric Sector Law and its regulations.

The criteria apply to projects associated with generation permit applications submitted to the CNE. Notably, these provisions do not apply to self-consumption or cogeneration projects.

The seven criteria for evaluating compliance with binding planning in granting generation permits are:

The CNE must determine that projects meet binding planning if they satisfy all criteria. If a project fails to meet even one criterion, the CNE will not grant the corresponding permit.

SENER must review and, if necessary, update these provisions annually.

Full provisions available here.

• Call for priority attention to applications for electric generation permits and interconnection to the SEN, aligned with binding planning

This call establishes the mechanism for prioritizing applications for electric generation permits and interconnection studies before the National Energy Control Center (CENACE), for the development of power plants deemed strategic and priority in the sector’s binding planning through 2030.

The goal is to streamline the priority attention process for proposed generation projects, from expressing interest in participating in the call, obtaining the generation permit, formalizing the interconnection contract, and reaching commercial operation, all through a technical and transparent procedure aligned with binding planning criteria.

The call is open to all private entities (with or without prior application processes) interested in developing new electric generation projects with a capacity of 0.7 MW or more, intending to interconnect to the SEN and aligned with the criteria and needs identified in the binding planning outlined in the technical annex (regional control management, transmission region, interconnection substation, voltage level, and technology type).

Explicitly excluded from the call:

• Distributed generation projects
• Projects not requiring generation permits under the Electric Sector Law and its regulations
• Self-consumption in all forms, cogeneration, and mixed development schemes

According to the calendar for determining permit issuance, interested parties must access the Unified Service Desk for Strategic Energy Sector Projects (VUPE) to register their expression of interest and request CENACE interconnection studies, following applicable formats.

The call outlines a timeline for permit applications, study payments, requirement reviews, notification of reinforcement and interconnection works study results, cost acceptance, permit issuance, execution of works, and interconnection of power plants.

The generation needs and regions related to the new electric power generation projects outlined in the call are as follows:

To consult the complete call and its annexes, you can access this link.