Start with four items
Look first for the period (periodo), usage in kWh (consumo), the tariff (tarifa) and the total to pay (total a pagar). With those four you already understand the essentials: how much energy you used, over how many days, under which rules you are charged and how much you owe.
The payment due date (límite de pago) is something else: it says when you have to pay, not when you used the power. CFE bills change format depending on the service, so an item may sit in a different spot on yours.
Source: Profeco: billing period and bill items ↗A CFE bill, field by field.
Choose the type of service. Then hover over or tap each part of the bill, and you will see what it means alongside.
A sample based on the structure of CFE bills. The data, readings and amounts are made up; it is not an official document and cannot be used to make payments. The layout changes with the tariff and format.
What each item means
These are the fields you will find most often. Your bill is in Spanish, so we include the term as it is printed.
| Item on the bill | What it is | What it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Service number (número de servicio) | 12 digits that identify your connection | Paying, reporting outages and paperwork |
| Billing period (periodo facturado) | The dates between two meter readings | Knowing which usage is being charged |
| Due date (límite de pago) | Last day to pay | Keeping it from carrying over as past due |
| Disconnection date (corte a partir de) | Date from which CFE can suspend service | Knowing your margin if you are late |
| Tariff (tarifa) | The billing rules for your service | Knowing whether you get a subsidy and which charges apply |
| Current and previous reading (lectura actual y anterior) | What your meter showed on each date | Checking your usage: current minus previous |
| Multiplier (multiplicador) | A factor on some meters | In those cases, multiply the difference in readings |
| Usage (consumo, kWh) | The energy billed for the period | Comparing bills and sizing panels |
| Basic, intermediate, excess (básico, intermedio, excedente) | The price steps on home tariffs | Seeing how much you pay at the highest price |
| Government support (aportación gubernamental) | What the government pays for you | Seeing the cost without the subsidy; it is already deducted |
| DAP | Your municipality's street lighting fee | It isn't your electricity; CFE only collects it |
| History (historial) | Your usage in earlier periods | Spotting seasons and your yearly average |
Compare days as well as kWh
A hypothetical example: 300 kWh in 30 days is 10 kWh a day. Another bill for 540 kWh in 60 days is 9 kWh a day. The second one has higher total usage but a lower daily average.
To see seasonal changes, also compare with the same period last year. A single bill, especially a summer one, doesn't describe your whole year.
Understand the price steps
On home tariffs, not all your kWh cost the same. CFE charges the cheapest first and, as you use more, you move up to the expensive ones. On tariff 1 the steps are counted per month, so on a two-month bill they are worth double.
With the prices published for October 2026, before IVA (Mexican sales tax), the difference looks like this. Hot areas, on tariffs 1A to 1F, have wider steps, especially in summer. The "Your bill" section of your results shows this with your own numbers.
| Step, tariff 1 | Per month | Over two months | Price per kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic (básico) | First 75 kWh | First 150 kWh | $1.14 |
| Intermediate (intermedio) | Next 65 kWh | Next 130 kWh | $1.385 |
| Excess (excedente) | Anything above 140 kWh | Anything above 280 kWh | $4.054 |
Separate usage from the amount
Check the payment breakdown: energy, IVA, street lighting and any other items that appear. The electricity market cost table explains what the system costs, but it isn't added to what you are charged. Don't subtract the government support again either: it is already deducted.
If you divide the total by the kWh, you get an average cost that includes charges unrelated to your usage. That isn't the price of your next kWh or what a panel would save you.
Source: Profeco: billing period and bill items ↗Check whether you are close to DAC
DAC is the tariff with no subsidy. CFE moves you to it if your average over the last 12 months goes above your town's limit, and that limit is monthly. On tariff 1 it is 250 kWh a month, or about 500 on a two-month bill.
To check, add up the kWh in a year of history and divide by 12. A single high bill isn't enough to change your tariff.
A quick check before using your data
Before basing a decision on an automatic reading, check the following. Asolea's reading is a help; it isn't a CFE validation.
- The photo shows the whole page, without glare or blurred figures. A PDF usually reads better than a screenshot.
- The period and service match the bill you want to analyze.
- Tariff, kWh, amount and dates match the document.
- The difference in readings equals the billed usage. If not, check for a multiplier or an estimated reading.
- You didn't mistake a row in the history for your current usage.
- The total does or doesn't include past-due amounts. To compare, use "facturación del periodo".
If something doesn't add up
If a reading is marked as estimated (estimada), CFE calculated it without reading your meter. Compare it with yours: write down what it shows and the date, and take a photo.
If there's no explanation for the usage, keep your bills and ask for a review by calling 071 or at a CFE service center (Centro de Atención). The bill alone can't tell you whether the meter failed or which appliance used more.
Sources and scope
The numerical examples are hypothetical. Tariffs and conditions can change and depend on the service; check your bill and current sources before making a decision.
