One question accounts for 80% of the doubts raised by Energy directors and CFOs who are evaluating a move to the Wholesale Electricity Market (MEM): does my company really qualify as a Qualified User? The nominal rule looks simple —more than 1 MW of contracted demand— but in practice there are nuances that change the answer: how demand is averaged, what happens if you have several plants, and what the CRE requires in 2026 following the 2025 Reform.
Before filing paperwork with the CRE, hiring consultants, or requesting quotes from Qualified Suppliers, the first step is to validate your case with real data. At Enerlogix we deliver that validation at no cost, no obligation, within 24 business hours. We only need four basic data points.
What you will receive
When you complete the contact form, in less than 24 business hours we deliver:
- Validation of the 1 MW threshold — we calculate your average annual demand from your CFE bills and tell you exactly whether you qualify, how close you are, or how much you still need.
- An estimate of projected savings — a specific range for your case (not the generic 15–30% range), based on your load zone, load factor, and the LMP price of your node at CENACE.
- Realistic migration time and cost — a timeline and investment range adapted to your particular situation.
- A recommended next step — if you qualify, what to do first. If you don't qualify as a standalone site, what alternatives you have (multi-plant aggregation, energy optimization, waiting for organic growth).
This is not a sales call with evasive questions. It is the concrete calculation, in writing, ready for you to take to your CFO or general manager.
How the calculation works
While you wait for the personalized validation, here is how we run it on the technical side —so you understand the logic before requesting it.
Step 1 · Average annual demand
We take the last 12 months of your CFE billing. The key figure is the maximum measured demand month by month, expressed in kW. We add the 12 values and divide by 12 to obtain the annual average of maximum demand.
- Average ≥ 1,000 kW: your company qualifies directly as a Qualified User.
- Average between 800 and 999 kW: you are close but don't qualify as a standalone site. There are alternative routes.
- Average below 800 kW: you don't qualify as a standalone site; we evaluate multi-plant aggregation if applicable.
Step 2 · Load factor
We calculate the load factor as annual consumption in kWh divided by maximum demand × 8,760 hours. This indicator shows how constant your consumption is, and Qualified Suppliers offer better prices to stable profiles.
- Factor > 0.55: your profile is very attractive for the MEM.
- Factor between 0.30 and 0.55: viable, with care in the contract negotiation.
- Factor < 0.30: requires more detailed analysis.
Step 3 · Load zone and LMP price
Your physical location determines the load zone at CENACE. Each zone has a different Local Marginal Price profile. Plants in the Bajío and North typically capture more savings than plants in the Center-South. We model your specific node against the LMP history of the last 24 months.
Step 4 · Comparison with your current tariff
We cross-reference your data against the current CFE tariff you pay (GDMTH, DIST, HM depending on your voltage level) and project the net savings after deducting all the costs of the process and fees.
Do you qualify? The 3 possible routes
Route A · You qualify (average ≥ 1 MW)
Your company falls within the Qualified User perimeter. The next decisions are how much, when, and with whom to migrate. Go deeper into:
- Qualified Users: complete guide — the pillar with a cost table in MXN, a DIY vs consulting comparison, and 9 FAQs.
- How much do you really save as a Qualified User? — an honest breakdown of the 3 sources of savings.
- 24-month MEM ROI Calculator — once you know you qualify, calculate the net savings and payback of migrating.
- Migrating to the MEM as a Qualified User: timelines, risks, and plan — a realistic 4-phase timeline.
- Grid Code 2026 Pillar — Complete Guide — the parallel compliance required when migrating.
Route B · You are close but don't qualify (800–999 kW)
You have 3 paths:
- Multi-plant demand aggregation: if your corporate group has several plants, the 2025 Reform allows aggregating the demand of all of them to reach the threshold. Same legal entity or demonstrable control, and all within the SEN.
- Organic growth to the threshold: if your plant is expanding in a way that will push demand above 1 MW in the next 12–18 months, it is worth starting the process earlier so that the migration coincides with the new load.
- Optimization to grow demand: counterintuitive but valid. If you pursue aggressive efficiency today you could move further away from the threshold. If you believe you will grow within 24 months, it is not advisable to optimize today before migrating.
Route C · You don't qualify (below 800 kW)
You don't qualify as a standalone site, but there are options:
- Stay on CFE Basic Supply and focus your effort on energy optimization (power factor, peak demand, tariff). Go deeper into industrial energy optimization.
- Evaluate distributed generation: rooftop solar, small cogeneration, storage. They can lower your bill without needing to migrate to the MEM.
- Aggregate group plants if any exist to reach the combined threshold.
What this initial calculation does NOT replace
The 24-hour validation is a coarse viability filter. If you are going to make the decision to migrate to the MEM, you then need:
- Detailed load-zone analysis with historical LMP data for your node
- A 24–36 month financial model including process costs, guarantees, and fees
- A comparison of Qualified Suppliers — each one offers a different spread and terms
- A parallel Grid Code plan — the CRE verifies compliance as a condition for authorizing the migration
- A negotiated contract structure — fixed vs LMP-indexed blocks, exit clauses, guarantees
All of this is covered by the complete Plan 360 Management. The initial validation serves to help you decide whether you want to take that next step with real information, not a hunch.
Request your free validation
We need four basic data points. In 24 business hours we deliver the personalized report:
- Latest CFE bill for your plant (any recent month)
- An approximation of annual consumption in kWh
- The industry your plant belongs to
- The location of the facility (state and municipality)
Fill out the contact form here and mention "Qualified User Validation" in the message. We respond in less than 24 business hours with the complete calculation, with no obligation of any kind.
To go deeper in the meantime
- Qualified Users: complete guide for industrial companies
- How much do you really save as a Qualified User?
- 10 common mistakes when registering as a Qualified User
- Qualified User registration with the CRE: step by step
- The Wholesale Electricity Market (MEM) explained for non-experts
Frequently asked questions
The threshold is an average annual demand greater than or equal to 1,000 kW (1 MW). It is calculated by taking the maximum measured demand from the last 12 months of your CFE billing, adding the 12 values and dividing by 12. If the average reaches 1,000 kW you qualify directly as a standalone site; between 800 and 999 kW you are close but don't qualify alone; below 800 kW you don't qualify individually.
The 2025 Reform allows aggregating the demand of all the plants of a corporate group to reach the 1 MW threshold, provided they share the same legal entity or demonstrable control and all are within the National Electric System. This is the multi-plant demand aggregation route, useful when each site on its own falls short of the individual threshold.
We deliver it in less than 24 business hours, at no cost and no obligation. We only need four data points: your latest CFE bill, an approximation of annual consumption in kWh, the industry of your plant, and the location (state and municipality). You receive in writing the threshold validation, a savings estimate for your case, the realistic time and cost of migration, and the recommended next step.
The load factor is calculated as annual consumption in kWh divided by maximum demand multiplied by 8,760 hours, and it indicates how constant your consumption is. A factor greater than 0.55 makes your profile very attractive for the MEM because Qualified Suppliers offer better prices to stable profiles. Between 0.30 and 0.55 it is viable with care, and below 0.30 it requires more detailed analysis.
No, it is a coarse viability filter. To make the final decision you also need detailed analysis of your load zone with the node's historical LMP, a 24 to 36 month financial model, a comparison of Qualified Suppliers, a parallel Grid Code plan (the CRE verifies it as a condition for authorization), and a negotiated contract structure. All of that is covered by the complete Plan 360 Management.
