1
Integrating the Electricity Markets in United
States-Mexico-Central America
Miguel Angel Avila Rosales, Senior Member, IEEE, and Hector G Sarmiento, Senior Member, IEEE
Abstract—Mexico is undergoing a process of significant
structural changes in the energy sector, in particular in the
electric power sector, such as the restructuring of power markets;
increasing emphasis on socio-economic and environmental
impacts of the electric power system; and consideration of an
higher role of energy technologies compatible with sustainable
development. Traditional industry framework has been exposed
to new market structures and greater competition, both of which
are being introduced by changing regulations on who can
generate, transmit, distribute and sell electricity. At present,
Mexico’s power industry is changing to a competitive integrated
model. One area in which there is particular interest is the
potential for increased cross-border trade in electricity between
Mexico and the United States (US) and very recently between
Mexico and Central America (CA). Such an increase would
provide environmental and economic benefits to all countries,
which of course is the primary reason for engaging in trade. This
paper describes the recent developments on international power
grid interconnections in Mexico with the US and CA.
Index Terms—Asynchronous Interconnections, International
Power Grid Interconnections, Synchronous Interconnections.
I. INTRODUCTION
O VER the last few years many electric utilities in the world
have started implementing important changes in their
organization in order to promote efficiency and improve their
financial situation [1].
Most of the changes in the power industry are related to
the introduction of competition and disaggregation of electric
services [2]. The unbundling of generation, transmission and
distribution has altered the nature of traditional planning and
operation approaches used by the vertically integrated utility.
In Mexico, the electric sector has been undergoing a
process of deregulation since 1993 [3], [4], [5], [6], and [7],
where the power industry is changing to a competitive
integrated model.
The generation of electric energy has been opened to
private investment for external (i.e. non-utility) production,
through the ownership, design, construction, maintenance and
Miguel Angel Avila Rosales is retired from Comision Federal de
Electricidad, Mexico (e-mail: miguel.avila@ieee.org).
Hector G Sarmiento is with Gerencia de Transmision y Distribucion,
Instituto de Investigaciones Electricas, Mexico (e-mail: hsu@iie.org.mx). All
the ideas, conclusions and statements in this paper represent individual
positions and by no means should be associated to the Comision Federal de
Electricidad.
operation of power plants. So far a large portion of the
generation capacity additions required to face future load
demand has been met by non-utility generators [8].
One area in which there is particular interest is the potential
for increase cross-border trade in electricity between Mexico
and the United States (US) and very recently between Mexico
and Central America (CA). Such an increase would provide
economic benefits to all countries, which is of course the
primary reason for engaging in trade [9], [10], [11], [12], and
[13].
Moreover, it could also generate substantial environmental
benefits--in terms of reduced emissions of global pollutants
such as carbon dioxide and regional pollutants such as sulfur
oxides and nitrogen oxides--depending on the composition of
available capacity (the mix of renewable and fossil-fired
generation resources), the size and direction of the energy
flows, and the time frame under consideration.
Electricity industry restructuring is based in part on the
assumption that transmission systems should be flexible,
reliable and open to all exchanges no matter where the
suppliers and consumers of energy are located and who they
are. However, neither the existing transmission systems nor its
management infrastructure can fully support this open
exchange [14], [15] and [16].
This paper describes the recent developments on
international power grid interconnections in Mexico with the
US and CA.
II. CURRENT REGULATORY FRAMEWORK AND
SUPPLY ADEQUACY
Since 1993, there was an effort to attract private
investments to increase the financial capacity of the electricity
sector [17], through the most important reform of the Ley del
Servicio Publico de Energia Electrica (LSPEE) [18], since the
nationalization of the electricity sector in 1960.
With this reform a new organization was set up that have
the following main characteristics:
1. The Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE), a
national and vertically integrated state-owned
utility, is the dominant utility in this organization.
In particular, the new law preserves the monopoly
of the CFE in the new public electric service.
2. The other state-owned utility, Luz y Fuerza del
Centro (LyFC), is a regional utility and has a
smaller role in the new organization.
 2

3. Electricity generation is open to private investment

through the external power producer which Áreas del Sistema Eléctrico Mexicano
includes the power self-supplier, combined heat
and power producer, small power producer,
independent power producer, exportation power 7

producer and power importer. These activities are 8 5

not considered as public service in the new law. 6

4. In this new organization the CFE is the only

purchaser of power from independent power 3

9
producers and small power producers and of the 1. Central
1

electricity surplus form combined heat and power 2.

3.
Oriental
Occidental
2

4. Noroeste
producer and power self-supplier. Also, the 5. Norte
6. Noreste
electricity network is owned by CFE and 7.
8.
Baja California
Baja California Sur
consequently this utility is the only seller of 9. Peninsular

transmission services and back-up power.

5. The coordination between CFE and the external
power producers is through long-term contracts (or
notifications in the case of short-term electricity
surplus). These contracts include power purchase
agreements, prices or tariffs associated with the
electricity network services of CFE for combined
heat and power producer and power self supplier,
exportation power producer and power importer.
In this new organization, the CFE obtains bids to develop
the power capacity with private investment. This bidding is the
main mechanism to introduce competition in the electricity
sector.
An important outcome of this energy reform is a new
Fig. 1. Comision Federal de Electricidad Control Centers.
The existing cross-border interconnections are also
coordinated by CENACE through agreements with the
Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) and the
Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).
Figs. 1 and 2 show the eight control centers of CFE and the
existing international cross-border interconnections with the
WECC and ERCOT, respectively.
ENLACES DE INTERCONEXIÓN EN EL SISTEMA
ELÉCTRICO MEXICANO
INTERCONEXIONES SÍNCRONAS
MIGUEL - TIJUANA
INTERCONEXIONES SÍNCRONAS DE EMERGENCIA
800MW INTERCONEXIONES ASÍNCRONAS
IMPERIAL VALLEY - LA ROSITA

EL PASO (Texas) - CIUDAD JUAREZ (2) 200M W MW

financing pattern in the Mexican electricity sector. NEG
RA S (B
tB)
36

RAS
PIED
s) -
(Te xa 0M W
ASS MW O 8
LE P ) 10 0 RED
EAG (VFT O LA
UEV
III. CURRENT PROCEDURES AND CFE-
LAR
AEP
EDO
(Te xa s) - N
– F AL
CO N 30MW

e xa s) tB) 15
0M W
ON (T AND (B
METHODOLOGIES FOR TRANSMISSION F ALC ARYL
CFE-SH 120M W
(Texa s)-MATAMOROS
BROWNSVILLE
MANAGEMENT AND EXPANSION PLANNING
The CFE is the electric utility in Mexico responsible for the
public supply of electricity, which includes power system
planning, power generation for public service, and SIMBOLOGÍA
400 KV

transmission and distribution of electric power. 230 KV

138 KV
BELICE – CHETUM AL 40M W
Power system planning is part of a national energy planning 115 KV

process, which in turn defines fuel policies and diversification CFE-GUATEMALA 200MW

strategies to coordinate the execution of alternative projects,
such as hydroelectric, geothermal, wind and nuclear power
plants.
Under this process, investments programs are subject to the
government budget process, which considers economic goals,
financial resources and retail electric rate policies. The
Mexican government manages the energy sector, including
electricity, through the Secretaria de Energia (SE) and the
Comision Reguladora de Energia (CRE).
The administration of the national grid is carried out by
CFE through the Centro Nacional de Control de Energia
(CENACE). There are eight control centers that coordinate the
operation at regional level, and a national control center that
defines the operation policies and the security standards.
Fig. 2. Comision Federal de Electricidad Existing International Cross-Border
Interconnections.
The main objective in the planning process is to determine
an optimal expansion plan that meets future electricity demand
and minimizes the investment, operation and loss of load costs,
providing adequate levels of reliability and quality under
environmental, financial and energy regulations.
Due to the complexity, the problem is solved by
decomposition in time (long, mid and short term time frames)
and by geographical hierarchy (generation, bulk transmission,
regional transmission and distribution networks).
Additional to the uncertainty of traditional planning
methods, regarding load forecast, fuel availability, generation
and transmission forced outages rates and hydrological
conditions, CFE has to consider also the uncertainty of private
sector investment under the cogeneration and self-supply
 3

schemes which is a key issue in the planning procedure due to

the impact of size and location of these resources. North American Interconnections
With locations, sizes and dates determined for hydro and
thermal plants, several models are combined to define the
required electrical network [19].
The transmission planning methodology used is based on a
minimum cost analysis that selects projects which show long-
term utilization, that improve system reliability, and are least-
cost options [14], [15] and [16].
The methodology involves four stages. It begins defining a
group of feasible generation scenarios. Then, the methodology
develops minimum cost transmission plans for all the
generation scenarios. The next stage is to schedule the
transmission programs required during the corresponding
period, starting from the final year and proceeding backwards 7

(mid and short-term).

The objective is to identify both priorities and optimum Fig. 3. North American Electric Reliability Corporation.
timing to develop each project. Finally, the methodology
proceeds to classify transmission projects for implementation The US and Mexico share a common border of about 1,310
purposes, which allows identifying robust programs, when this km within the WECC region. ERCOT and CFE share a
exists. common border of 1,200 km.
A robust program is comprised of projects that include all B. Existing US/Mexico Interconnections
desirable attributes (reliability, flexibility and economy). This
CFE has several interconnections with electric systems of
last stage helps the design of hedging mechanisms to mitigate
various utilities along the US-Mexico border. Some of these
associated risks with the final plan.
ties have been used for permanent interchanges of energy,
The transmission planning methodology also includes a
while others are used only for emergency purposes (Fig. 2).
profit analysis which quantifies costs and benefits of the
The most substantive interconnections between WECC
transmission plan to assure that an acceptable profitability is
member systems and CFE exist between SCE and CFEs Baja
achieved.
California region. These facilities consist of two 230 kV ties
between SDG&E and CFE: a twinned 230 kV tie connecting
IV. CROSS-BORDER TRADE IN ELECTRICITY
SDG&Es Miguel bus with CFEs Tijuana bus; and a single
BETWEEN MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES
circuit 230 kV tie between SDG&Es Imperial Valley and
A. History of US/Mexico Electricity Exchanges CFEs La Rosita substation. Both of these interconnections are
synchronous ties with a combined transfer capability of up
The level of exchanges of electric energy between the US
800MW (Fig. 2).
and Mexico has been influenced by a variety of geographic,
The only other additional significant interconnection
economic, and political factors.
between WECC and CFE exists between El Paso Electric
Throughout the middle of the 20th century demographic and
Company (EPECO) and CFEs Norte region. These consist of
economic conditions led to a significant increase in electric
two 115 kV ties (Fig. 2).These interconnections provide a
energy transactions between Mexico and the US regions near
combined transfer capability of 200MW (Fig. 2). However, the
the US-Mexican border [20].
CFE load must be electrically isolated from the Mexican
Since 1984, net electricity exports from Mexico to the US
system in order to be synchronized with and supplied by
increased significantly with the signing of a 220MW firm
EPECO.
power purchase agreement between CFE and San Diego Gas
In the summer of 2001, American Electric Power (AEP),
& Electric (SDG&E) and South California Edison (SCE).
Texas, placed in service its first asynchronous interconnection
In 1967, the Western System Coordinating Council
between ERCOT and CFE in Eagle-Pass, Texas (Fig. 2). A 36
(WSCC), now called WECC, was formed in the US to
MW Voltage Source Converter (VSC) was selected in this
promote bulk power system reliability through coordinated
application in order to supply reactive power support in
planning and operation.
addition to real power injection [21]. Eagle-Pass is located in
The establishment of this regional council, along with the
the western part of the Central Power and Light (CPL) system
founding of ERCOT in 1970 has facilitated the regional
in ERCOT and is served by two 138 kV transmission lines
coordination of electric energy exchanges between utilities in
(Fig. 2).
the US and CFE (Fig. 3). CFE has been a member of WECC
It was also the first such ERCOT interconnection to be
since April 1985.
justified on the basis of reliability, and was selected over a
transmission line project with lesser benefit/cost.
 4

In Laredo, Texas, reliability was also the basis for Alamito

Creek
Marfa Alpine Mexico and United States Border Region
expanding interconnections between ERCOT and CFE, when CFE/ERCOT
United States AEP- Austrop

the second asynchronous interconnection was endorsed by the Area 6

Ojinag
a
Presidi
o

LA AMISTAD AMISTAD
TNC
Kendall

Skyline
San Marcos

Zorn
Lytton
GIDEON

Flatonia
Peters

Fleweller
T.H. WHARTON
GREENS
BAYOU

FPP

ERCOT board (Fig. 2) [22].

Del Reo Brackettville
Del Rio CPS Saguin
SAN ANTONIO Hallettsville W.A. PARISH

Area 4 Uvalde
Hondo
(3)
SOMMERS LCRA So. Lane City
Angleton
Columba Center
Mexico RAYBURN S. Lane Cit y
Point
DOW

In order to allow time for the construction of a new 345 kV

Edna VALASCO
Eagle Pass
Eagle Pass
Pleasantion VICTORIA Blessing
PEARSALL STP
CFE 36 MW
HVDC
Kennedy
COLETO
Coleto
JOSLIN

Piedra
s Creek
Negra Pawnee Carbia

line form San Antonio area to Laredo, a 100MW Variable

Asherton SAN MIGUEL
s
CHIHUAHUA
RIO ESCONDIDO
CUAUHTEMOC
AEP-
NAVA
LAREDO TCC LON C. HILL
(3)
(2) NUECES

Frequency Transformer (VFT) was selected as the most

CARBON II
Bruni Stratton BAY
F CO. NUEVO
AVALOS VILLA LAREDO
Kingsville BARNEY
Falfurrias DAVIS
N. ROSITA

Area 3
appropriate device for this asynchronous interconnection. The CAMARGO
HERCULES
HERCULES
POT LAMPAZOS

Area 5
Zapata

F ALCON
Area 2
FRONTERA Raymondville
FALCON DAM

VFT was placed in service by the summer of 2007.

MONCLOVA PRESA
SANTIAGO FALCON
Edinburg

J.L. BATES
LA PALMA Area 1
ESCOBEDO REYNOSA RIO MATAMOROS
V. GARCIA
BRAVO

A third asynchronous interconnection was also placed in

(2)

( 2)
(2)
(2 )
(2 )
(2) (2 )
( 2)
LAURO
Gulf of Mexico
ANDALUCIA ( 2) VILLAR
GOMEZ ANAHUAC
AEROPUERTO
PALACIO
PV
MONTERREY
HUINALA

service by the summer of 2007, at Sharyland Utilities LP (SU) LERDO

TORREON
SUR
SALTILLO

PLAZA
TEC
CFE
Area 1 Matamoros-Brownsville
345/400 kV Area 2 Reynosa – McAllen
Railroads substation near Mission, Texas, and links the 230 kV
MONTE MORELOS

CD. VICTORIA
Area 3
Area 4
Nuevo Laredo – Laredo
Piedras Negras – Eagle Pass
138/115 kV
ERCOT grid with CFE, where it has been used to exchange up 69 kV
PTO. ALTAMI RA
ALTAMIRA
Area 5
Area 6
Presa Falcon – Falcon
Ojinaga - Presidio
(2 )

to 150MW of power between the asynchronous power grids Generation (2)

Substation

(Fig. 2) [23].
At the southern border energy is exported to Belize at 115
kV (Fig. 2). Belize has a contract to purchase power from CFE
up to 25 MW of firm capacity. This power flow is achieved
trough a 40MW, 115 kV line. This line originates in Xul-Ha
substation, which also supplies the local area of Chetumal, and
is connected to the major CFE generating station in Merida
area.
C. US/Mexico Interconnection Study
CFE and ERCOT have a long history of emergency
assistance across the Mexico/US border. In 2003, identified a
mutual benefit in conducting a contemporary study of possible
interconnections between their respective grids [24], to
determine the short-term (phase 1) and long-term (phase 2)
opportunities for interconnection.
The study was separated into phases as follows: phase 1,
immediate consideration of support to the transmission system
along the Texas border where older inefficient generation is no
longer economical to operate (Fig. 4).
The reliability of both systems has been recently improved,
through two new interconnections using available transmission
lines and the advantages of new technology as the VFT and the
Fig. 4. Asynchronous Interconnections between ERCOT and CFE.
In both phases, both high voltage synchronous and
asynchronous transmission transmission interconnections will
be considered, but the primary effort is focused on
asynchronous interconnections that utilize Flexible Alternating
Current Transmission Systems (FACTS) technology to allow
the scheduling of power transfer between the electrical grids.
V. CROSS-BORDER TRADE IN ELECTRICITY
BETWEEN MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA
A. Mexico/Guatemala Interconnection
This interconnection project consists of a 103 km long,
400kV transmission line (with 32 km on the Mexican side and
71 km on the Guatemalan side), and involves the expansion of
two substations, one in Tapachula (Mexico) and the other in
Los Brillantes (Guatemala). Fig. 5 shows the
Mexico/Guatemala interconnection [25].
Sistema de Interconexión Eléctrica Para América Central (SIEPAC)
Mérida

BtB HVDC, allowing better control of reactive power and • • C ancún

voltage along the border. A Ciudad de

Nuclear Laguna
Verde
•

 
 

Phase 2, will evaluate opportunities for long-term Mé xi co

Angostura
Chicoasen
•
 
Malpaso

interconnections that can support additional economic Bel mopan

transactions and emergency assistance between CFE and

Mollejón
Planta
Hi dro
• San Pedro Sula
Tapachula •
• •
ERCOT.
  



 
Los Brillantes •
•
• C d.
Guatemala
El C ajón

Te guci galpa
•

The studies will not be constrained by infrastructure San Sal vador

•
•
•Le ón
limitation, and they are likely to involve new transmission REFERENCIA • Managua

improvements for higher transfer capabilities. Central Hidroeléctrica


   Arenal-C arobicí
Central Térmica • •
San José
Subestaciones
Capitales Bayano
• Fortuna
• Panamá
Línea Doble
Línea de Interconexión

Fig. 5. International Power Grid Interconnection Mexico/Central America

and SIEPAC Line.

On the basis of the contract signed, the utility in Guatemala,
INDE, will acquire 120MW of power from CFE, which could
be expanded to 200MW, since CFE has a surplus that would
make this possible. At the same time, the contract will enable
CFE to purchase energy on the Guatemalan electricity market
in the event of a contingency.
This interconnection has helped initiate the integration of
the Mexican electric system with the CA market and will allow
economy energy transactions between both countries and
medium and long term bilateral contracts.
Additionally the tie will help to the control of power flows
in Guatemala, reducing losses and improving power reactive
margins.
B. International Power Grid Interconnections in Central
America
Up to this date, six CA countries have interconnections
between themselves: Honduras-Nicaragua (1976), Costa Rica-
Nicaragua (1982), Costa Rica-Panama (1986), El Salvador-
Guatemala (1986) and El Salvador- Honduras (2002) [25]
(Fig. 6). These interconnections are at 230 kV voltage level,
for mutual support in emergency situation, and for interchange
of surplus of hydro power.
They have a transfer limit of approximately 50MW.
Líneas de transmisión actuales en la región.
Chixoy
Mollejón
Planta Hidro
Los Brillant es
•
•Cd. Guat emala
• •
•
•
15 de Sep.
San Salvador
Solo 115 kV.
Red. Nal.
Pta. Nicaragua
REFERENCIA
Central Hidroeléctrica
Central Térmica
• Subestaciones
Capitales
Línea Doble
Fig. 6. International Power Grid Interconnections in Central America.
C. Electricity Interconnection System for the Central America
countries
SIEPAC is the Spanish acronym for Electricity
Interconnection System for the CA countries, and is one of the
main projects underway to foster regional integration and
cooperation between six CA countries: Panama, Costa Rica,
Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.
The project will construct a 1,830 km 230 KV transmission
line linking Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica,
Nicaragua and Panama (Fig. 5). The new transmission system
interconnection will alleviate the regions periodic power
shortages and decrease operating costs, thereby reducing the
5
cost electricity to consumers. Empresa Propietaria de la Red
(EPR) administers the project.
Construction of this line began in 2006 and was scheduled
to begin operation by the end of 2009. The line is a single
circuit, at 230 kV, with a rated of 300MW capacity. A second
circuit can be added in the future, for an additional 300MW
capacity.
The SIEPAC project not only consist of the construction of
this transmission line, it consist as well of the establishment of
a regional electricity market, a regional regulator and a
regional operator in order to reduce the cost of energy and
rapidly expand energy capacity by attracting private sector
investment.
VI. CONCLUSIONS
This paper has described the recent developments on
international power grid interconnections in Mexico with the
US and CA.
The reliability of CFE and ERCOT systems has been
recently improved through the commissioning of two new
interconnections using available transmission lines and the
advantages of new technology as the VFT and BtB HVDC,
allowing better control of the interchange of power and better
control of reactive power and voltage along the border.
Reliability and operational agreements have been signed for
Interconexión
the operation of such interconnections and are expected to
México – Belice
(115 KV)
continue growing along with additional joint studies and
Belmopan coordination groups.
San Pedro Sula
!"# $%& '(
   !"# The Mexico-Guatemala interconnection projects will
•
El Cajón facilitate support during emergencies and increase operation
T egucigalpa
reliability. This interconnection has helped initiate the
• Pavana
• integration of the Mexican electric system with the CA market
León
•
and will allow economy energy transactions between both
• Managua
countries and medium and long term bilateral contracts.
•
•
Arenal-Carobicí
These new interconnections with the US and CA will allow
San José
Mexico to participate in diverse electricity markets through
Bayano
•
•
Fortuna
Panamá
power and energy transactions.
VII. REFERENCES
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with the existing and future grid" 2009 IEEE PES Power System
Conference and Exposition, March 15 to 18,2009, Seattle, WAS.
[23] M. E. Caskey , "Sharyland Utilities LPDC tie project," Sharyland
Utilities LP.2005
[24] CFE/ERCOT Interconnection Study. December 2003.Available: http//
www.puc.state.tyx.us/electric/projects/20948/20948.cfm
[25] H. G. Sarmiento, M. A. Avila Rosales, "International grid
interconnections in Mexico and Central America" World Energy
Council. WEC Interconnectivity Task Force.

VIII. BIOGRAPHIES

Miguel Angel Avila Rosales (M’1970, SM’2004)

He holds BSc and MSc degrees in Electrical
Engineering from the Instituto Politecnico Nacional,
Mexico, as well as a MASc in Electrical
Engineering from the University of Toronto in
Ontario, Canada. He is retired from Comision
Federal de Electricidad (CFE), where he was Area
Manager of Transmission Planning, with primary
responsibilities in Transmission Planning Studies
for the main CFE Bulk Electric System. He is a Senior Member of IEEE and a
Member of International Council on Large Electric Systems (CIGRE SC C1