Friday 13th horror: Everything you need to know about the massive CFE blackout
Yesterday was Friday 13th, and as if the universe decided to play a cruel joke on us, the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) reminded us that in Mexico, even the power grid needs a break. From early on, the massive CFE blackout started plunging entire neighbourhoods into darkness, and social media was buzzing more than ever. If you were left in the dark or know someone still waiting for the power to come back, here's the lowdown on what happened, plus a handy guide to surviving the next cut.
Which neighbourhoods lost power?
Chaos kicked off around 10 am. In Mexico City, neighbourhoods like Doctores, Roma Norte, Condesa and parts of Coyoacán went dark as if someone had switched the city to airplane mode. Reports quickly flooded in from the State of Mexico: Naucalpan, Tlalnepantla and Ecatepec also joined the list of areas in the shade. But the massive CFE blackout didn't stop in the centre of the country; in Morelos, the scheduled power cuts affected Cuernavaca and Temixco, just as many had suspected when the CFE hinted at the announcement.
Those hit hardest were people working from home or those with half-cooked food on the stove. My mate from the Del Valle neighbourhood sent me a desperate message because his chicken had defrosted. Yep, that's how sudden it all was.
The blackout review: what went wrong?
If we do a quick massive CFE blackout review, the thing that wound people up the most was the lack of real-time information. The CFE announced it was scheduled maintenance, but many of us only found out when we were already sitting in the dark. In Cuernavaca, for example, the cut in Temixco lasted nearly four hours, and neighbours ended up having an impromptu street party with candles and coolers. Power did start coming back around 4 pm, though in some areas it stretched on until the evening.
On social media, the massive CFE blackout was trending. Memes were flying everywhere: from the classic "the electricity bill has arrived" to jokes about it being a taste of the apocalypse. But jokes aside, the real issue is that these cuts catch us off guard time and time again.
Survival guide: how to make the blackout work for you
Since the CFE doesn't give us as much notice as we'd like, here's my massive CFE blackout guide so you're not caught off guard next time. Because let's face it, this will happen again. Take notes:
- Keep a torch and batteries handy. Don't rely on your phone's torch – if you haven't charged it, you'll be left in the dark ages.
- Never open the fridge. Every time you open it, the cold air escapes and your food can spoil. If you know a cut is coming, freeze some water bottles to help keep the temperature stable.
- Charge your phone and power bank. The moment you see your neighbour lighting a candle, rush to plug everything in. Don't wait for the lights to go out.
- Follow the CFE's official accounts. They sometimes post updates on Twitter, but if you don't want to rely on that, join your neighbourhood WhatsApp group – there's always a kind soul who shares the official notice.
- Keep some cash on you. When the power's out, cash machines and card terminals go down too. If you need to buy something, cash is king.
But hey, it's not all bad. If you know how to use a massive CFE blackout to disconnect from the world, it can be the perfect excuse to chat with the family, read that book you've been neglecting, or just take a nap without your phone buzzing. It's all about perspective.
What's next: more blackouts on the horizon?
Scheduled power cuts are nothing new. The CFE says this work is to improve the grid, but deep down we all know that in Mexico, whenever temperatures rise or demand peaks, the power says "that's it for me". If you live in areas like the ones mentioned, stay alert. You know how the CFE works: they announce things, but sometimes the announcement comes after the cut. So be prepared, have your emergency kit ready, and don't get too comfortable, because these massive blackouts are going to remain a part of daily life.
And you, how did you experience yesterday's blackout? Let me know if you struggled or if, on the contrary, it was a welcome break from the routine. In the meantime, I'm going to keep a lamp charged, just in case.