Código de Red (CdR) is the technical regulation that establishes planning, control, and power quality standards for the National Electric System (SEN in Spanish). The current version applies to industrial parks and companies connected to medium and high voltage. If your park or facility operates at or will scale to ≥ 1 MW, you have explicit obligations (although sub-1 MW users should still assess compliance to prevent contingencies and fines).
Key thresholds and changes affecting industrial parks
Power Factor (PF): Minimum 0.95 (95% of the time). Starting in 2026, the threshold increases to 0.97. This requires more refined compensation and management solutions in facilities with nonlinear loads and variable shifts.
Total Demand Distortion (TDD / %DATD): CdR 2.0 incorporates a 50% limit for TDD, evaluating harmonic intensity between the user and supply source. This implies a harmonic filtering design aligned with the park’s PCC.
Flicker (instant voltage variations): The instantaneous reference limit increases from 0.6 to 0.8, making coordination of motor starts and switching maneuvers increasingly important in parks with welding and motor-driven processes.
Voltage during normal operation: Operational range of 95%–105% of nominal voltage under normal conditions (relevant for internal interconnection and feeder design).
Short-circuit levels: The study horizon is now set at 3 years (previously 6). For parks with growing loads, studies must be updated along with expansions and new interconnections.
Benefits of compliance (beyond avoiding fines)
- Safety and continuity: Fewer trips, fewer line stoppages, greater reliability for tenants.
- Operational efficiency: Lower losses and better equipment performance (motors, drives, furnaces, robots, HVAC).
- Renewable integration and electrification: Enables solar PV, storage, and new loads (e.g., logistics EV fleets).
- Competitiveness and FDI attraction: Clear rules and verifiable power quality increase park value for nearshoring.
Fines and risks of non-compliance
Non-compliance can lead to significant economic penalties and, in critical cases, operational restrictions or disconnection. For industrial parks, reputational costs with tenants — due to energy SLAs — may exceed the fine itself. The CRE oversees monitoring and interpretation of the Código de Red.
Essential compliance checklist for industrial parks (CdR 2.0)
- Electrical survey and baseline measurement: Monitor voltage, frequency, harmonics (TDD/THD), imbalance, PF at PCC and per building.
- Up-to-date studies: Short-circuit (3-year horizon), protection coordination, load flow, and voltage stability.
- Correction plan: Address PF, harmonics, flicker, start sequences, voltage control.
- Telemetry and continuous monitoring: Enhanced requirements under CdR 2.0 favor real-time visibility and reporting.
- Reporting and evidence: Document measurements, corrections, and compliance; prepare CRE deliverables if applicable.
Step-by-step compliance (parks and industrial buildings)
- Power quality study. Measure PF, TDD/THD, flicker, imbalance, and voltage for 7 days (or per your metering plan) to establish a baseline.
- Diagnosis and action plan. Prioritize by operational/contractual risk and CdR 2.0 thresholds (include a 2025→2026 PF=0.97 roadmap).
- Solution implementation. Capacitors/STATCOM, harmonic filters, drives, power SCADA, start sequencing, service entrance reinforcements.
- Continuous monitoring. Telemetry, alarms, dashboards; recalculate short-circuit and adjust protections as the park expands.
- Compliance report. Evidence for the park and tenants; include logs for CRE inspections.
For an industrial park in Mexico, complying with the Código de Red 2.0 is more than a requirement: it is an operational insurance policy and a commercial differentiator for tenants that now demand continuity, power quality, and frictionless expansion.
