18-Month Grid Code Compliance Plan

When an industrial company discovers it is in low compliance with the Grid Code, the typical reaction falls into one of two extremes: panic (we want to fix this in 30 days) or resignation (this is going to take 3 years). Neither is realistic. The schedule that actually takes a mid-sized plant from "no studies" to "stable compliance" is 12 to 18 months, divided into 4 phases with clear milestones.

This guide describes that schedule in detail: what happens each month, what deliverables are generated, how much each stage costs, and how to avoid the typical bottlenecks.

Why 18 months and not less?

Three operational reasons:

1. Electrical studies have technical times that cannot be compressed. A power-quality measurement campaign requires a minimum of 7 days of continuous measurement, ideally 30. A protection coordination study requires weeks of modeling and iterative review.

2. Physical corrections require operational shutdowns. Replacing a relay, installing a harmonic filter, adding new protections — all of this demands maintenance windows that are synchronized with the plant's production schedule.

3. CRE has its own timelines. The authority's response to submitted files typically takes 60 to 120 days. Accelerating this from the outside is not possible.

But 18 months is not eternal either. It is executable in parallel with normal operation, without affecting production if planned well.

The 4 phases of the schedule

Phase 1 · Diagnosis (months 1–2)

Objective: know exactly where you stand.

Activities:

• Documentary audit of all existing studies (even if old)
• Physical verification of protections, transformers, and substation
• Mapping of current and projected loads at 24 months
• Identification of gaps against what CRE requires
• Inventory of existing measurement and monitoring equipment
• Review of prior CRE notices (if there are open observations)

Deliverables at the close of the phase:

• Diagnostic report with traffic-light status by item
• Prioritized list of necessary studies and corrections
• Cost estimate per stage
• Detailed schedule for the next 3 phases

Typical cost: $80,000 – $250,000 MXN depending on the size of the plant.

Phase 2 · Critical electrical studies (months 3–8)

Objective: have the complete technical file accepted by CRE.

Activities:

• Execution of short-circuit and protection coordination studies (first, they are the basis for the rest)
• Load-flow study
• Power-quality measurement campaign (7–30 continuous days)
• Grounding and earthing systems study
• Specific studies if applicable (large motor starting, stability)
• Integration of deliverables signed by a certified expert

Deliverables at the close:

• Complete file of electrical studies
• Analysis of non-conformities detected
• Proposal of corrective measures with budget
• Implementation schedule

Typical cost: $400,000 – $1,200,000 MXN depending on the number and complexity of studies. See electrical studies of the Grid Code.

Phase 3 · Implementation of corrections (months 9–14)

Objective: close the technical non-conformities detected in the studies.

Typical activities (vary by case):

• Readjustment or replacement of poorly coordinated relays
• Installation of harmonic filters (passive or active)
• Adaptation of the grounding system
• Installation of permanent monitoring equipment
• Reorganization of loads to balance phases
• Adaptation of differential protections on main transformers
• Electrical verification testing after correction

This phase requires coordination with the maintenance team and the production schedule. The recommendation: schedule the most invasive interventions during planned shutdowns (typically weekends or low-demand periods).

Typical cost: $500,000 – $4,000,000 MXN depending on the number and magnitude of corrections. It is the most variable phase and the one that most depends on the starting point.

Phase 4 · Permanent regime (months 15–18)

Objective: leave everything documented and deliverable to CRE.

Activities:

• Integration of the complete technical file (studies + corrections)
• Formal presentation to CRE (notice + annexes)
• Establishment of continuous processes: monitoring, annual reports, and a substation preventive maintenance schedule by periodicity
• Training of the internal team in the use of permanent monitoring
• Closure of prior open observations (if any)
• Definition of compliance KPIs for internal monthly reporting

Deliverables at the close:

• Complete file presented to CRE
• Documented continuous compliance plan
• Schedule of internal reports and audits at 24 months

Typical cost: $100,000 – $400,000 MXN (documentary integration + regulatory advisory).

Visual month-by-month schedule

Total integrated cost

Adding up the 4 phases for a typical plant of 2–5 MW:

Compared with typical penalties of $2M – $5M for systemic non-compliance, the complete plan pays for itself in fine avoidance, not counting the operational savings of well-coordinated protections and the efficiency improvement from harmonic filters.

Typical bottlenecks and how to avoid them

Bottleneck 1: scope changes mid-project

The plant adds new load during the studies phase. Result: part of the work must be re-run. Mitigation: map planned loads at 24 months from phase 1 and have them modeled in the studies.

Bottleneck 2: maintenance windows hard to obtain

Production does not want to give up windows for intervention. Mitigation: coordinate with operations from the diagnosis to identify natural windows (planned shutdowns, seasonal low demand) instead of fighting for them in phase 3.

Bottleneck 3: changes in the responsible internal personnel

The person who started the project leaves the company. Mitigation: document everything in a shared file from day 1, not in individual emails.

Bottleneck 4: the signing expert changes

If the expert assigned to the project resigns or cannot continue, the studies may have signature problems. Mitigation: work with a consultancy that has several certified experts instead of just one.

Bottleneck 5: CRE delays the review

Sometimes the authority takes longer than the expected 60–120 days. Mitigation: submit the file from phase 4 without waiting to perfect everything and adjust afterward as CRE requests.

When it makes sense to accelerate to 12 months

The 12-month schedule (versus 18) is possible if:

• The plant already has recent studies that only require updating
• The physical corrections are minor (readjustments vs new equipment)
• There is unrestricted budget availability to execute in parallel
• A broad maintenance window exists (long planned shutdown, planned expansion)

If your plant is in this scenario, the project cost is similar but compressed into fewer months.

When to extend to 24 months

There are cases where it makes sense to extend further:

• The plant has multiple accumulated observations that require remediation in order
• The phase 3 investments are high and are spread across two budget cycles
• The historical file is very disorganized and reconstructing it takes extra time
• There is a parallel migration to the MEM underway, which adds schedule complexity

The connection with migration to the MEM

If your company is evaluating migrating to the MEM as a Qualified User, it is best to execute the Grid Code plan in parallel with the migration, not after. CRE verifies compliance as a condition for authorizing the migration. Companies that register as a QU without having the Grid Code resolved face mandatory deadlines to regularize.

Enerlogix's 360 Management Plan integrates both processes: migration to the MEM + Grid Code compliance in a unified schedule.

Do you need to execute this plan?

At Enerlogix Solutions we have executed this schedule with more than 50 industrial companies. Our Grid Code service, within the 360 Management Plan, integrates Diagnosis, Studies, Implementation, and Permanent Regime into a single service — you do not have to manage 3–5 firms in parallel.

If your plant needs Grid Code compliance in the next 18 months — whether due to an open observation, migration to the MEM, or to get ahead of the next audit — request a free 360 Management Plan evaluation. We tell you what phase you are in, how much is left, and the realistic schedule for your case.

To understand the complete framework, read the Grid Code 2026 pillar — Complete Guide.

Frequently asked questions