Terrifying Friday the 13th: Everything you need to know about the massive CFE blackout
Yesterday was Friday the 13th, and as if fate wanted to play a cruel joke on us, the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) reminded us that even the power grid needs a break now and then. From early on, the massive CFE blackout started plunging entire neighbourhoods into darkness, and social media went into overdrive. If you were left in the dark or know someone still waiting for the lights to come back on, here's the full story, along with a handy guide to surviving the next cut.
Which areas were left without power?
The chaos began around 10 in the morning. In Mexico City, neighbourhoods like Doctores, Roma Norte, Condesa, and parts of Coyoacán started going dark as if someone had put the entire city on airplane mode. Reports quickly flooded in from the State of Mexico: Naucalpan, Tlalnepantla, and Ecatepec also joined the list of places in the shade. But the massive CFE blackout wasn't confined to the centre of the country; down in Morelos, scheduled cuts affected Cuernavaca and Temixco, just as many had suspected since the CFE quietly hinted at it.
The worst hit were those in the middle of working from home or those with dinner half-cooked on the stove. A mate of mine from the Del Valle neighbourhood sent me a desperate message because his chicken had defrosted. Yeah, it was that sudden.
The blackout review: what went wrong?
If we do a quick massive CFE blackout review, what really ticked people off was the lack of real-time information. The CFE announced it was scheduled maintenance, but most of us found out when we were already sitting in the dark. In Cuernavaca, for example, the cut in Temixco lasted nearly four hours, and the neighbours ended up having an impromptu street party with candles and coolers. To be fair, service started coming back around 4 in the afternoon, though in some areas it stretched on until night-time.
On social media, the massive CFE blackout was trending. Memes were flying everywhere: from the classic "the electricity bill has arrived" to people joking it was a preview of the apocalypse. But jokes aside, the real issue is that these cuts keep catching us off guard, time and time again.
Survival guide: how to make a 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 on the hop next time. Because, yes, this will happen again. Take note:
- 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 escapes and your food can go off. If you know a cut is coming, freeze some water bottles to help keep the temperature stable.
- Charge your phone and your power bank. The minute you see a neighbour lighting a candle, run and plug everything in. Don't wait for the power to go.
- Follow the CFE's official social media. They sometimes announce things 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 updates.
- Keep cash on you. When the power's out, ATMs and card machines go down too. If you need to buy something, cash is king.
Sure, 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 have a nap without your phone buzzing. It's all about perspective.
What's next: more blackouts on the horizon?
Scheduled power cuts aren't new. The CFE says this work is to improve the electricity network, but deep down we all know that in Ireland, whenever there's a heatwave or a surge in demand, the grid can struggle. If you live in areas like the ones mentioned, stay alert. You know how it is with the ESB (or similar utility): they give notice, but sometimes the notice comes after the cut. So be prepared, have your emergency kit ready, and don't get too comfortable, because these massive blackouts are likely to remain a part of life.
And you, how did you get on with yesterday's blackout? Tell me if you had a nightmare with it, 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.