Blackout in Querétaro: causes consequences, and energy solutions

The constant blackouts in Querétaro are due to extreme weather events and the saturation of the national electricity system. These interruptions directly impact industrial productivity and the quality of the energy supply. With solutions such as double conversion UPS, voltage regulators, and BESS systems, companies can strengthen their resilience, reduce operational impact, and optimize energy use during outages or consumption peaks. Prevention and energy backup are thus consolidated as pillars for the continuity and efficiency of the industrial sector in Mexico.

The state of Querétaro has experienced several power outages in recent months, mainly due to heavy rains and storms. However, other factors such as the imbalance between energy supply and demand, together with failures in the current electrical infrastructure, are also affecting industrial productivity in this and other regions of Mexico.

Therefore, it is important that directors, area managers, and personnel in charge of industrial plants understand the causes of these failures and implement mitigation strategies that ensure operational continuity and asset protection.

What caused the blackout in Querétaro?

Official statements from the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) explained that the power outages in more than six states since October 9 were due to heavy rains and winds. In Querétaro alone, more than 320,000 users were affected.

However, the power outage in Querétaro in October and several months earlier are also associated with the following factors, which, when combined, increase operational risk and maintenance or plant shutdown costs:

• Extreme increase in demand: Heat waves or extreme weather events have increased the use of air conditioning systems to levels that exceed the capacity of transmission lines and substations to consumption areas, forcing the National Energy Control Center (CENACE) to implement rotating blackouts to prevent a major collapse.
• Infrastructure and maintenance deficit: Although authorities claim that Mexico has sufficient generation capacity, the transmission and distribution infrastructure of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) is an area that needs improvement. The lack of long-term investment to modernize and expand this network creates bottlenecks and points of failure.

In the case of the recent blackouts in Querétaro, the Director General of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), Emilia Esther Calleja Alor, pointed out that the arrival of cranes allowed for medium-voltage repairs to be carried out, although the biggest challenge was the softening of the ground after heavy rains.

Impact of power outages in Querétaro on industry and households

For industrial companies located in Querétaro, power outages have a significant impact:

• Unscheduled downtime: An unplanned outage in automated production lines can lead to product loss, sequence restarts, and recalibrations.
• Damage to sensitive equipment: voltage variations (spikes and drops) before, during, and after service restoration can cause irreversible damage to electronic equipment, control systems, and high-power motors.
• Supply chain risks: unexpected shutdowns affect logistics and business reputation, negatively impacting customer and/or investor confidence in the context of nearshoring.
• Additional costs: For plants located in this state, blackouts generate additional fuel costs. In fact, the local press reports that “more than 100 companies in Querétaro operate on diesel due to a lack of electricity.”

Why are blackouts becoming more frequent in Mexico?

Blackouts in Mexico are the result of various structural factors that explain their increasing frequency:

• Extreme weather events: the aftermath of global climate change has intensified heat waves, storms, and hurricanes, causing more frequent blackouts and damage to electrical infrastructure.
• Increased electricity demand: Industrial digitalization, the use of electronic equipment, and changes in consumption habits have put pressure on existing infrastructure, causing overheating and power outages in regions where the grid has not yet been reinforced.
• Deficiencies in the distribution/transmission network: “Critical nodes” have been identified in the infrastructure that can lead to interruptions when a failure occurs.

How to protect yourself from a power outage in Querétaro?

For companies in the industrial sector, power outage protection measures should focus on three pillars: technical resilience, energy efficiency, and strategic backup.

• Implement appropriate UPS or correctly sized emergency generators to keep critical processes active—such as quality control, automation, refrigeration, or security—and thus allow for a controlled shutdown in the event of an outage.
• Install electrical protection devices such as surge suppressors to prevent damage from reconnection and automatic voltage regulators to stabilize the internal grid.
• Integrate sustainable energy backup solutions, such as photovoltaic systems with BESS storage, which, in addition to reducing dependence on the grid, allow energy to be managed during peak hours and strengthen operational continuity in the event of interruptions.

Industronic Group solutions for power outages and blackouts

Industronic Group solutions not only allow you to react to power outages, but also to anticipate them, reduce their impact, and maintain operational continuity. Among the most notable for the industrial sector are:

• Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Systems: double conversion backup equipment, ideal for environments that require a pure sine wave and zero transfer times. They protect everything from computer equipment to robust manufacturing systems.
• Voltage surge suppressors: certified and designed to absorb high-amperage surges, complying with the safety and efficiency standards necessary to protect critical infrastructure.
• Automatic voltage regulators: correct voltage variations and filter electrical noise that damages sensitive machinery, providing a precise response to supply fluctuations.
• Energy Storage Systems (BESS): state-of-the-art equipment that allows for energy management, optimization of consumption during peak hours and low-rate periods, and immediate backup, actively contributing to the efficiency of the system itself.
• Personalized energy diagnostics: energy efficiency consulting services aligned with CONUEE guidelines, including load analysis, motor optimization, lighting, and energy management systems (SGEn).

Frequently asked questions about blackouts in Querétaro

Why do blackouts occur in Querétaro?

Recent blackouts in Querétaro and other nearby states have been mainly due to thunderstorms and rains that damaged power lines and transformers. In addition, high energy demand and the lack of modernization in transmission and distribution infrastructure are factors that, together, increase the frequency of power outages.

What to do during a power outage in Querétaro?

In corporate or industrial environments, it is essential to have backup power equipment such as UPS or generators to help ensure the operational continuity of critical systems. During unexpected outages, it is recommended to stop non-essential processes to prevent damage, ensure that emergency protocols are implemented, and once power is restored, check voltages and power quality.

How to prevent electrical damage after a power outage?

Once service is restored, it is suggested to delay turning on equipment for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the voltage to stabilize. The best prevention, however, is to have UPS and voltage regulators that automatically manage safe power-up and power-down and maintain power quality during fluctuations.