Costa Maya, Q.R. — Residents in the southern areas of the state have again resorted to road blocks due to CFE power outages. On Sunday, a group closed a section of Costa Maya highway that runs between Chetumal and Bacalar.
They were protesting the continued problems with the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE). Unstable electricity has been felt throughout the state for the past two months, however, the southern communities have been hit the hardest.
The Sunday morning protestors said they lost power late Saturday night and were left in the dark for more than four hours. It wasn’t until around 3:00 a.m. Sunday morning that power was restored.
Residents from over 50 southern communities who are continually affected by powercuts have vowed to gather in protest. The group have said they are planning a mass protest Monday against the CFE.
The group from the Bacalar area intend to travel to Chetumal to voice their frustrtations directly toward the Federal Electricity Commission.
Adan Bernardo Yam Balam from the Instituto Tecnologico de la Zona Maya, says they have had problems since the beginning of the year. Constant power failures have been felt in both the municipality of Bacalar and Othón P. Blanco due to the old infrastructure.
He says the lines that power all those communities are over 30 years old. Rotting poles fall in strong winds, he says, which takes CFE personnel days to repair since they have to come from Chetumal.
He also says growth has exceeded the capacity and that the transformers can no longer meet the demand. He says on Monday morning, the area is planning a protest due to the ongoing electrical blackouts.
Last week, State Secretary Cristina Torres said that the CFE had agreed to provide her with a maintenance schedule for repairs in the effected southern regions.
