Many of us have been struggling with power shortages and outages, and it seems like there is no logic to them. Why do you think this happens? What would you do (if you could) to change it? What can be a real solution?
Diana Herrera, 28, receptionist. I think it is all because we do not have the infrastructure for so much growth and CFE is doing their best but they’re no magicians. People seem to forget the amazing job they did with Odile in 2014, how we had power back up sooner than expected and how crews kept coming from all over the country to fix everything. If I could, I would honestly start looking at the big hotels and how they are affecting this with a power engineer who can come up with the real problem so we can give a real solution. I think a real solution would be to be less self-centered and start being conscious of our power use.
Xochitl Maldonado, 51, sales. We have power outages because there are just too many people in Cabo and we just can’t keep up. There is an insane amount of construction, and it’s not even hotels anymore; it’s apartments and housing for mid-high economy Mexican couples who are coming to do business here. Cabo will soon burst and very big consequences are coming. This is nothing. But let’s be real. Change takes time and money. It’s not an overnight fix. However, if we all work together and prioritize this issue, we could definitely make Cabo San Lucas a more reliable and enjoyable place to live and visit.
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Marcos Sampayo, 46, security. I think it’s because CFE is awful and we have not turned to alternative power sources. In the mainland, people are used to having shortages and outages but it doesn’t get as hot as here. If we had solar power, we would free up a large number of generators and would balance things out, but our dear president is making it super difficult. I would open the power agreement to have at least another company and solar, and with healthy competition have things run better for us.
Daniel Macías, 50, gardener. We are living in a place with no urban planning. Of course, these problems will happen. When I first moved here when I was a teen, all the cerros were intact and it was crazy to think that someone would build their house in the middle of nowhere; now there are entire complexes where there are no basic services. People don’t care because it’s cheap. And once Cabo is unliveable, people will run away and leave things broken.
Julia Lerma, 24, teacher. From what I’ve seen and heard, a big part of the problem stems from the infrastructure not being able to keep up with the increasing demand for electricity, especially during peak tourist seasons. You see, our beautiful town has been growing rapidly, attracting more and more visitors each year. But the power grid and systems haven’t really been upgraded accordingly. Plus, sometimes the weather can be a real troublemaker, with storms and other natural events causing damage to power lines and equipment.
Miguel Torres, 32, salesman. If I had the power to change things (pun intended), I’d push for some serious investment in our power infrastructure. Upgrading the grid, investing in more reliable and efficient equipment, and exploring renewable energy sources like solar and wind could really make a difference. I mean, we’re blessed with sunshine almost all year round, so why not harness that energy, right? Another thing that could help is improving the coordination and communication between the local government, utility companies, and the community. Transparent information about maintenance schedules and plans for addressing power issues could go a long way in managing our expectations and reducing frustration.
