On May 11, 2026, the Ministry of Energy (“SENER”) published in the Official Gazette of the Federation the “Second Call for the priority processing of applications for electricity generation permits and interconnection to the National Electric System, aligned with binding planning” (the “Second Call”).
As a direct precedent to this Second Call, on October 17, 2025, SENER published the first call, a transparent and expedited process enabling interested parties to obtain an electricity generation permit from the National Energy Commission (“CNE”), as well as to obtain the corresponding interconnection studies from the National Energy Control Center (“CENACE”). Through the aforementioned first call, the CNE granted 18 electricity generation permits for power plants whose commercial operation date is expected between 2027 and 2030. Based on the results obtained, SENER determined to issue this Second Call with the objective of giving priority processing to applications for electricity generation permits corresponding to projects that contribute to compliance with the binding planning of the electricity sector and to the expansion objectives of the National Electric System (“SEN”). In light of the foregoing, an executive summary of the most relevant aspects of the Second Call and its implications for participants in the electricity sector is presented below: A. Objectives and scope of the Second Call Through the Second Call, SENER and the CNE will define the electricity generation projects that may obtain electricity generation permits and interconnect to the SEN during the 2027-2030 cycle, based on criteria of reliability, energy sovereignty, social justice, environmental sustainability, and technological innovation. The foregoing is aligned with the Electricity Sector Development Plan (“PLADESE”), which establishes a long-term vision for the period 2025-2039, contemplating the incorporation of 76,000 MW of new capacity and 1,800 MW of replacements, of which nearly 80% will correspond to clean technologies. In this context, the purpose of the Second Call is to organize and expedite the registration, evaluation, and follow-up procedures for projects associated with applications for electricity generation permits that: (i) comply with the applicable legal requirements; (ii) are aligned with the binding planning of the electricity sector; and (iii) are developed in accordance with the technical and regulatory criteria set forth in the call itself. It should be noted that the Second Call does not provide for requirements additional to those established in the applicable regulations, but rather incorporates elements that will make it possible to differentiate among applications based on their technical soundness, their alignment with binding planning, and their technical-operational viability. Eligible Projects: The Second Call is directed at electricity generation projects with a capacity equal to or greater than 0.7 MW that intend to interconnect to the SEN, which must comply, among others, with the following criteria: (i) be aligned with binding planning, including their location in the foreseen regions; (ii) use renewable energy; (iii) have an Electric Energy Storage System whose sizing represents at least 30% of the power plant’s capacity; (iv) foresee a commercial operation start date as early as possible within the period between 2027 and the first half of 2030; and (v) have documentary evidence of the procedures related to technical, social, and environmental viability filed before the competent authorities (i.e., SENER, CENACE, and SEMARNAT). Excluded Projects: Projects for Distributed Generation, Self-Consumption (in all its modalities), Cogeneration, those developed under the Scheme for Mixed Development, and those associated with generation permits granted prior to the publication date of the Second Call are expressly excluded. Electronic portals: The management of the procedures provided for in the Second Call is carried out through two electronic platforms: (i) the Single Window for Strategic Projects of the Energy Sector (“VUPE”), through which interested parties must register their expression of interest and submit the application for interconnection studies before CENACE; and (ii) the Electronic Filing Office (“OPE”), which constitutes the exclusive means for submitting applications for electricity generation permits and other associated procedures before the CNE. B. Schedule of the Second Call The Second Call establishes a specific schedule for each of the stages of the procedure, including the registration of expressions of interest, the submission of permit applications, the addressing of requests for correction, the issuance of interconnection study results, the acceptance of Interconnection Works and Reinforcement Works, as well as the issuance of the permits granted by the CNE. A summary of the most relevant dates and stages provided for in the Second Call is presented below: Dates Stages General Description May 13 to 22 Period for expression of interest and application for interconnection studies. Submission of the registration of the expression of interest and the application for interconnection studies through the VUPE. May 25 to 28 Requests for correction by CENACE. Review of the application for interconnection studies and, where applicable, addressing of the requests for correction formulated by CENACE. May 29 to June 1 Determination of payments for interconnection studies. Notification by CENACE of the amounts to be paid for studies or the revalidation of prior studies. June 2 to 8 Payment for interconnection studies. Evidence of payment made for the interconnection studies. June 9 to July 8 Submission of the application for the electricity generation permit. Formal submission of the application for the electricity generation permit before the CNE through the OPE. July 9 to 13 Review of requirements and notification of requests for correction by the CNE. Review and verification of the documents and information submitted and issuance of requests for correction by the CNE. July 14 to 17 Addressing of requests for correction notified by the CNE. Submission of complementary information and documentation to address the CNE’s requests for correction. July 20 Notification of the costs of Reinforcement Works and interconnection. Communication by CENACE of the results of studies and the costs of Interconnection and Reinforcement Works. July 21 to 28 Express acceptance of the cost of the Interconnection Works and Reinforcement Works. Express acceptance of the costs and works determined by CENACE through the Works Acceptance Form. July 29 to August 4 Reassessment of the results of Interconnection Works and Reinforcement Works. Exceptional reassessment of the results of the studies and the costs of the works due to withdrawals or other adjustments. August 5 to 6 Express acceptance of the cost of the redefined Interconnection Works and Reinforcement Works. Express and irrevocable confirmation of the costs and works determined by CENACE through the Works Acceptance Form. August 7 to 12 Evaluation of technical studies and binding planning criteria. Technical evaluation of the projects in accordance with the binding planning criteria. August 13 to 14 Review and approval of permits by the CNE’s Technical Committee. Review and, where applicable, approval of permits by the CNE’s Technical Committee. August 17 Publication of the results of the Second Call. Official publication of the results of the Second Call. August 18 Notification of permits approved under the Second Call. Notification through the OPE of the permits granted to the applicants. Obligations subsequent to the issuance of the permit. Once the titles of the electricity generation permits have been issued under the Second Call, the permit holders will be subject to compliance with various regulatory, technical, and operational obligations. Among the main obligations, the following stand out: Provision of guarantees. Submission to CENACE of the corresponding financial guarantees related to the execution of the Interconnection Works and Reinforcement Works. Execution of the interconnection agreement. Execution of the corresponding interconnection agreement, following the provision of the applicable guarantees. Execution of Interconnection Works and Reinforcement Works. Development and completion of the works determined by CENACE in accordance with the results of the interconnection studies. Compliance with the Works Program. Development of the project in accordance with the terms and conditions established in the corresponding permit title. Interconnection to the SEN. Carrying out the actions necessary to achieve the interconnection of the power plant to the SEN. Commercial Operation Start. Compliance with the technical, regulatory, and operational conditions necessary to achieve the Commercial Operation Start within the terms provided for in the corresponding permit title. At Von Wobeser y Sierra, we are at your disposal to advise you on the analysis and implementation of the Second Call. Should you require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact our partners and associates who are experts in the matter. Edmond Grieger, Partner: +52 (55) 5258-1048 | egrieger@vwys.com.mx Ariel Garfio, Partner: +52 (55) 5258-1007 | agarfio@vwys.com.mx Edmundo Berumen, Associate: +52 (55) 5258-1007 | eberumen@vwys.com.mx Roberto Flores, Associate: +52 (55) 5258-1048 | rflores@vwys.com.mx Mauricio Puebla, Associate: +52 (55) 5258-1007 | mpuebla@vwys.com.mx Héctor Sánchez, Associate: +52 (55) 5258-1048 | hsanchez@vwys.com.mx Regina González, Associate: +52 (55) 5258-1007 | rgonzalez@vwys.com.mx Arturo Hernández, Associate: +52 (55) 5258-1007 | ahernandez@vwys.com.mx
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