Understanding Your CFE Bill in English: kWh, Tariffs, and DAC
By the Vallarta Solar Guide editorial team · Published November 1, 2026 · Updated November 1, 2026 · Not technically reviewed yet
Short answer
Your CFE bill charges for the kilowatt-hours (kWh) you used during a billing period, priced according to the tariff assigned to your account. Residential tariffs are subsidised up to certain consumption levels; homes that use a lot over time can be moved to the unsubsidised DAC rate. Your bill itself tells you your tariff and period — check it rather than relying on a neighbour’s.
The fields that matter
| On the bill (Spanish) | What it means |
|---|---|
| Tarifa | The rate category applied to your service, e.g. a residential tariff or DAC. |
| Periodo facturado | The dates covered. Many homes are billed every two months, but not all — check yours. |
| Lectura actual / anterior | Meter readings; the difference is your consumption. |
| Consumo (kWh) | Energy used in the period. |
| Historial de consumo | Past periods — essential for sizing solar or understanding seasonal changes. |
| Total a pagar / fecha límite | Amount due and payment deadline. |
| Número de servicio | Your service number — needed for payments, complaints and interconnection. |
Consumption versus cost
Two bills with similar kWh can have very different totals. Residential pricing is tiered: the first block of energy is priced lower, and additional blocks cost more. Tariff, season and the length of the billing period all affect the result.
That is why comparing your bill with a friend’s in another building — or another municipality — tells you very little.
Why summer bills jump
Air conditioning is usually the largest load in a Vallarta home. Months with heat and humidity can multiply consumption. Some residential tariffs include a summer subsidy period; the exact months and limits depend on the tariff on your account and are set by the authorities, so they can change.
What DAC is
DAC stands for Doméstica de Alto Consumo — high-consumption residential. When an account’s average consumption over a recent period exceeds the limit for its tariff, CFE can reclassify it to DAC, which is priced without the residential subsidy and includes a fixed charge. Returning to a subsidised tariff requires lowering average consumption for a sustained period.
A fictional worked example
Imagine a condo whose bill shows a two-month period and consumption of 1,200 kWh. The bill’s history shows the previous six periods ranged between 500 and 1,400 kWh, with the highest in summer. The owner would: (1) note the tariff printed on the bill; (2) look up whether that tariff’s average-consumption limit for DAC is close to their pattern; (3) identify the big loads — here, three mini-splits — before deciding between efficiency changes and solar.
Checklist: reading your own bill
- Find the tariff code and note it.
- Confirm whether the period is monthly or bimonthly.
- Write down kWh for every period in the history.
- Mark the highest periods and what was running then.
- Keep copies — installers need them for an accurate proposal.
Related questions
Can I get my bill in English?
CFE bills are issued in Spanish. This guide translates the key terms; for disputes, use CFE’s official channels.
Is my whole building on DAC?
DAC applies per account (service number), not per building or neighbourhood.
Sources
Official sources are listed as references for rules that can change. Always confirm current requirements with the authority directly. Spotted an error? Send a correction.
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