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Information on every topic for living on Lake Chapala
www.focusonmexico.com

Information for the following is courtesy of the GUADALAJARA REPORTER, a weekly English-language
newspaper covering national, regional and local news
. 
Please visit their online newspaper at: www.guadalajarareporter.com

Here is information on the utilities that are available within the Lake Chapala area. 

Telephone

Long Distance Dialing

National

Canada & USA

Other Countries

To Call Lakeside from Canada or USA dial

Telcel Cell Phones

Electricity

Reading Your Electric Bill

Electricity is provided by the CFE, Mexico’s electric company. The electrical units
of consumption are the same all across North America. These units are Kilowatt
Hours or KWH. Mexico has an excellent method of motivating people to conserve
electricity. Unlike many electric utilities north of the border, the CFE charges you
more per KWH consumed if you are a heavy user than if you economize. That
means the heavy user might be paying $2.46 pesos for a KWH compared to a
more frugal user who could be charged as low as $0.55 pesos.

So how does the CFE determine what to charge per KWH used? They look back
at your average usage over a six month period and assign you one of eight
different tariff tables based on that usage. The residential tariffs are labeled 1,
1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, and DAC (Domesticas de alto consume). If you exceed
certain consumption levels of the table you are assigned to, you will be elevated to
the very expensive DAC tariff schedule.

Consumers are assigned to one of the seven basic tariff levels dependent upon
their geographical location. Those living on the coast where air conditioning is
needed during the hot and muggy months are assigned a much friendlier tariff
rate schedule than those who live at a much higher elevation where air conditioning
is not needed.Most of us in the high altitude areas of Jalisco are assigned to tariff
rate table 1. Should we exceed certain levels of consumption, however, we are
transferred to a second and more costly tariff schedule, known as DAC.

What can be confusing to newcomers is that two neighbors each consuming the
same amount of electricity during a two month billing period can be billed at very
different rates. That is because one is either assigned to tariff table 1 or the more
expensive DAC rate table.

If during the previous year you consumed more than 30,000 KWH of electricity,
you are considered a heavy user and are assigned to this more costly DAC rate
table. If you used less than 30,000 KWH you are assigned to the more
economical tariff rate table 1.

Let’s look at two neighbors who each consume 500 KWH during the last billing
period. The high consumption household that averaged over 30,000 KWH over
the previous year would have a bill close to $1,600 pesos for these 500 KWH.
The frugal household whose bill is computed using the data on tariff rate table 1
 instead of DAC would have a bill closer to $800 pesos for the same
amount of electricity.

To learn more about these tariffs please go to
www.cfe.gob.mx/es/informacionA1Cliente/conocetutarifa/  Don’t forget to add
the 15% IVA (sales tax) to these amounts. This webpage shows that the person
assigned to tariff rate table 1 pays only $0.61 pesos for the first KWH while the
heavy user pays $2.58 pesos for that same first unit of electricity.

For CFE client service dial 071. The CFE Chapala office telephone is 765-3961.

Propane Gas

Is readily available lakeside from GASLICUADO for residential
and commercial businesses, including BBQs and vehicles. There
is an office across the carretera from El Torito in Ajijic. To order
gas, drop into this office during business hours, or telephone
766-0790 or 763-5081.

Propane gas for vehicles is available at Z gas right next door to Gaslicuado
in Ajijic.

Prices as of July 2006 are:-

Further information is available on line at:  http://www.grupozeta.com or by
e-mail: glicuado@gal.icanet.net.mx

Gasoline/Diesel Fuel

Gasoline Stations. Prices in pesos as of July, 2006
Prices are the same all across Mexico.  Many are open 24/7.

Water

Is supplied by SIMAPA within the Municipality of Chapala. Their offices are
located in Ajijic, San Antonio, Chapala, San Nicolas, Santa Cruz and
Atotonilquillo.

The number of bedrooms, bathrooms and size of garden area determine the
prices charged for water. The price charged for water varies from one area
to another within the municipality. Water cost is 15% IVA tax exempt.

Water may be paid for on a monthly or yearly basis by visiting one of the
offices above during business hours. There is a 15% discount off the annual
cost of water if paid for by the end of February.

The SIMAPA office in Ajijic is located at Guadalope Victoria #63,
Telephone: 766-0423.

Water prices as of July 2006 in Ajijic are:-

As of January 2006 water meters are available for Chapala area homes.
In addition low consumption showerheads, kitchen faucets and toilets
will be made available to homeowners in the coming year.

The new meters are available upon request at SIMAPA offices.
Installation should be carried out within two weeks of application and
payment of the water meter is approximately $500 pesos. The water
meters have a maximum functioning life of five years with replacement
recommended every three years for optimum operation. The first time
meter users will only be charged a modest replacement fee rather
than the full price of a new device. Homeowners who order the meters
will still benefit from advance payment discounts offered on annual
SIMAPA bills covered during January and February. Those customers
will be charged the minimum fee established for users in their locality,
minus the discount. Thereafter SIMAPA will issue bimonthly bills to
cover water consumption in excess of the 15 cubic meters per month
minimum fee limit.     

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Last modified: March 05, 2008