The Energy Regulatory Commission warns about possible effects on the National Electric System related to electric vehicle charging centers.

The integration of charging centers dedicated to charging electric vehicles , such as charging stations, domestic chargers, charging yards, could cause possible effects on the National Electric System (SEN), said Norma Leticia Campos Aragón, commissioner of the Regulatory Commission for Energy (CRE).

During her participation in the International Electricity Symposium organized by the National Chamber of Electrical Manufactures (CANAME), the commissioner pointed out that they have identified various affectations that could affect the SEN, such as imbalances in electrical voltage, increased demand , heating transformers, motors, and capacitors, among other "headaches". "There is a lack of a regulatory framework that allows the safe and orderly connection of low voltage vehicle chargers, for example, in residential areas," he said.

He added that a nationwide electromobility program is also required to identify prospects for the type of vehicle that would be promoted , such as cars, buses, metro, metrobus, trains, tractor-trailers, among others, as well as the possible technologies that they would be using, such as fuel cells, batteries, or regenerative braking.

"There is a lack of a general regulatory framework on electromobility that encourages quality infrastructure in Mexico through topics such as the use of certified products and professionalization of personnel," said Campos Aragón. Likewise, he stressed that it would also be necessary to work on a regulatory framework regarding tariffs , since the commissioner considers that it is necessary to encourage the recharging of electric vehicles at certain times that are beneficial for the SEN.

Grid Code 3.0

On the other hand, the CRE commissioner announced that, as president of the agency's reliability advisory committee, they are already working on a new network code proposal . "We think that it will not take us long to finish (the new network code proposal) for the second semester of this year, and before December it is approved by the governing body (of the CRE)," he said.

The commissioner added that they are currently carrying out a diagnosis to assess the level of compliance with the current network code, since many permit holders do not comply with it rigorously. "My impression is that they do not understand it, that it is not clear enough, and that is what we are working on now," he said. According to the CRE, the network code is made up of criteria, procedures, and manuals. The criteria are of general application, the procedures dictate the way to proceed in various operational aspects such as voltage correction, while the manuals are unnumbered sections that detail the general criteria.

What is the CRE Network Code?

The network code is the document that establishes the minimum technical requirements for the efficient development of the planning, measurement, operational and physical control processes, as well as the access and use of the electrical infrastructure . Its objective is to encourage the development, operation, maintenance, modernization, and expansion of the SEN in a coordinated manner, based on technical and operational requirements , and in the most efficient and economical way.