He National Electric System (SEN) entered into an operational state of emergency in the National Interconnected System (SIN) at 5:04 p.m. this Tuesday, May 7, due to a high demand for electric power, reported through its website, the National Energy Control Center (CENACE).
The alert lasted less than an hour, since at 5:52 p.m., CENACE issued the declaration of the end of the operational state of emergency, so the SIN went to Normal Operational State.
At what time was the peak demand for electricity recorded?
According to the CENACE portal, the demand for electrical energy amounted to 48 thousand 472 MW at 5:00 p.m. this Tuesday, which represented its highest level of the day.
Arturo Carranza, specialist in the energy sector, explained that the operating states are issued by CENACE regulations, and are intended to notify users of the conditions under which the SEN operates.
“The high temperatures that are being recorded in some regions of the country are leading to an increase in electricity demand, which in turn stresses the system. To achieve conditions of reliability and safety in the operation, CENACE issues these alert or emergency operating states, which are accompanied by other actions to reduce stress,” Carranza indicated.
However, he clarified that, technically, no one can predict a blackout. “The truth is that, in the face of high temperatures, We must wait for CENACE to make decisions to guarantee the reliable and safe supply of electrical energy,” he noted.
The Admonitor consultancy pointed out that the CENACE alert could have been issued for two scenarios, “the first of which could be due to the fact that the reserve margin was below 6 percent, but there could also be an impact on the electrical load.”
“We infer that it was a scenario in which the reserve margin was below 6 percent or it is also possible that it was a load impact due to some fortuitous event in the network or operation.”
Admonitor added that, according to data from the National Weather Service (SMN), this was the Hottest May 7 in history in Mexico.
The latest figure available from CENACE established that the country’s operational reserve is at 10.56 percent.
Carlos Flores, specialist in the energy sector, explained that according to the Regulatory Manual of Operating States of the National Electric System (SEN), the minimum planning reserve that the National Interconnected System (SIN) It should be 13 percent.
He pointed out that the reserve value classified as efficient is the one that is above 21.3 percent.
In June 2023, an electrical energy demand of 54,200 MW was reached, its highest level in the history of Mexico.
