New Internal Regulations of the National Energy Commission

On May 8, 2025, the Internal Regulations of the National Energy Commission or CNE were published in the Federal Official Gazette. Among other aspects, it defines the internal Administrative Units that will integrate the CNE (which is now one of the main regulators of the Mexican energy sector, together with the Ministry of Energy and the Safety, Energy and Environmental Agency, a.k.a. ASEA), including the Electricity Unit and the Hydrocarbons Unit, which concentrate key technical functions in their respective sectors.

Electricity Unit (the EU)

The EU is in charge of preparing proposals for key regulations for the electric sector, including requirements for hedging contracts, methodologies for tariffs and prices, as well as parameters and standards for clean energy generation.

It will also prepare draft resolutions regarding the granting, modification, assignment, extension and other acts associated with permits for regulated activities.

These proposals and projects will be reviewed and, if applicable, approved by CNE's Technical Committee.

The EU will also determine the tariffs, prices and considerations applicable to the regulated activities of the electric sector, based on the methodologies approved by the Technical Committee. In addition, it will be responsible for resolving on the admission, dismissal or inadmissibility of the procedures submitted before the CNE in matters related to the electric sector, including, without limitation, registration of non-supplier marketers, registration of qualified users, and supervision and regulation of electric supply permits.

Additionally, it will supervise compliance with the applicable regulations on the matter, such as Mexican Official Mexican Standards (a.k.a. NOM) and general administrative provisions. It will also operate the electronic system for the management of Clean Energy Certificates and will verify compliance with clean energy obligations.

Hydrocarbons Unit (the HU)

The HU may issue opinions and propose modifications for the expansion of the transportation, storage and distribution of natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas in accordance with the guidelines established by the Ministry of Energy.

The HU may also propose to the Technical Committee general administrative provisions to ensure open access to (i) transportation and distribution services through pipelines, as well as (ii) storage of hydrocarbons, petroleum products and petrochemicals.

Additionally, it may submit proposals to the Technical Committee for permit modifications, assignments, transfers, updates, extensions, authorizations and other acts related to the regulated activities of the hydrocarbons sector, and will issue and execute those permit titles approved by the Technical Committee.

It will also define the means and formats for permit holders to deliver the information required in their permits, and propose amounts for the payments of fees for the CNE's services.

It will resolve the admission, dismissal or inadmissibility of the procedures submitted before the CNE in the hydrocarbon sector.

Public Registry

The CNE will implement and manage a Public Registry accessible via its online portal. This platform will publicly display all permits and resolutions issued by the CNE.

Implementing provisions

The Regulations establish that the sanctioning procedures and non-compliance reports initiated before the Energy Regulatory Commission will be concluded by the new Verification Unit of the CNE.

They also establish that the matters pending resolution by the Energy Regulatory Commission will now be handled by the new Administrative Units of the CNE, unless applicants decide to withdraw and re-submit them under the new legal framework. Finally, the CNE's general organizational manual and the Technical Committee's operating rules must be issued within 90 business days from the effective date of the Regulations.