Paying your CFE Bill
So you have your first CFE bill and you’re trying to figure out how am I gonna pay this? In this blog we explain your options!
Please note if you are after the “Limite de Pago” date on the bill you MUST pay it at the CFE office. Payments made any other way can run the risk of not being received in time and you will get cutoff.
CFE – ONLINE
Set-up your account online with CFE and you can pay your bill using a Mexican Debit or Credit Cards or American Express. You will need to set up an account first and then add your service number (“No. de Servicio”) after. Then add your card. CFE also has a great phone app called CFE Contigo that you can find here for Android and here for iPhone. Mexican cards only with the only exception being American Express.
WESTERN UNION – ONLINE
Western Union allows you to pay your CFE Bill online with a US Credit Card. Not sure about a Canadian Card. Handling fee of $2.99 USD applied.
XOOM – ONLINE
XOOM allows you to pay your CFE Bill online with a US Credit Card. Not sure about a Canadian Card. Handling fee of $4.99 USD applied.
MEXICAN BANK – ONLINE
Almost any Mexican Bank is set-up for online bill payment to CFE. I may not be the easiest to use depending on the bank.
I tried it once with my Banorte account. I thought I’d paid the bill until a couple of weeks later on a Tuesday in September at 2:30pm when I was cut-off. Went and paid the bill at CFE and it was a sweaty 24 hours until they came to turn it back on.
MEXICAN BANK – ACH
Almost any Mexican Bank is set-up for ACH or auto-debit of the payment to CFE. I have been told you need to go to the bank to set this up. Like all trips to the bank take absolutely every bit of ID (Passport, Resident Card, Drivers Licence) and allow at least 2 hours to complete!
OXXO – IN PERSON
Bring your CFE BIll to your local Oxxo. They will scan it and take cash to pay the bill. It comes with a 9 Peso fee charged by Oxxo.
CFE OFFICE – IN PERSON
At your local CFE office you can pay in person or at the CFE Matico kiosks. The kiosks are easy, just queue up and scan the bar code on your bill. Your name and bill details will appear and you can begin slipping Peso notes into the machine. Sometimes the machine is out of smaller notes to make change. Don’t worry, just overpay the bill and you’ll have less to pay next time.
The new kiosk machines have card readers that will allow you to pay with your Mexican Debit or Credit Card instead of cash.
CFE OFFICE – PREPAYMENT
One of the best options for Expats who are not around full time is to go to the CFE office before you leave and prepay. Figure out what you bill amounts are likely to be while you are gone (hopefully small since you aren’t there), round up to the nearest thousand pesos. You can scan any old bill anytime at the kiosk and it will allow you to throw money on the account. Stuff the machines with all the Pesos you figure you need and get your Recibo. Monitor your bills online and you’ll see the credit amount and the deductions as each bill comes through.
Shelly Warehime
November 21, 2020 at 5:24 pmThank you so much that is really great information. Mr Short I’m having trouble finding the hours of the self-pay places like T
elnor and CFE do you have any information on that? and as far as paying at the OXXO you can pay your CFE at the OXXO as long as it’s on time I was a day late, so I had to go to the office like you said.
Dean Short
November 29, 2020 at 11:33 amHi Shelly, thanks for the feedback. I’m sorry I don’t know the hours for the CFEmatico machines. I usually go in daylight hours when I do have to pay in person.
Stuart McIntosh
March 19, 2021 at 8:55 amHi Mr Short. You included very good information. I have a question if you could answer. I recently bought property in Mazatlan. Unfortunately, I am in Canada and have been attempting to get things organized while away. I eventually tracked down former owner bill, so I have service #. I set up acct on CFE contigo. Because I have no current bill I can’t seem to advance. Calls to CFE office don’t contact with a person. Luckily, apparently electricity is still on at the house. Any suggestions for taking over the bill so that I can deposit pesos to have a credit on acct? BTW, you sound like an amazing support for Cabo real estate buyers!
Dean Short
March 19, 2021 at 9:17 amHi Stuart, My best advice is to find yourself a PM (property manager) even on a short term basis. Find a local Facebook Group for Mazatlan (ours is called Cabo Expats) and inquire about a PM who is a local with good English. Here we know a few who will pay bills and check on the property for $100 USD per month. The PM will be able to get the latest CFE bill and both get it paid up and get the app setup. The app will only work with a MX bank account so you might have to try the Western Union option go forward or have your PM continue to pay the bill until you’re able to have the bank account setup. Having a local PM is great for other things like getting the internet going (if its not) and other things including running trades in to fix things or paint and make improvements.
cfe palmas queretaro
April 21, 2021 at 5:42 pmEres un grandisimo redactor. Gracias, Un saludo
Blaine Tubbesing
May 20, 2021 at 8:05 pmHi Dean-If trying to pay via Western Union what do we tell WU is the name of the recipient? I do not see on the bottom of the bill a Western Union account number for CFE. Is it just CFE Nacional?
Dean Short
June 8, 2021 at 10:08 amHi Blaine,
I’ve never tried using Western Union. I expect they have some english speaking support you can call.
Dean
cfematico monterrey
September 30, 2021 at 6:03 amDeberiais postear mas aportes como este… Muchas gracias, Un saludo
pago online cge distribucion
October 3, 2021 at 12:29 pmEres un fiera. Gracias Saludos
Erika Salazar
January 17, 2022 at 2:57 pmHi Dean,
I had a question is there alot of property managers that help with paying bills? I am interesting in purchasing a home in Cabo but I heard its a bit of frustration to pay your bills if you are not local. Do many real estate agents offer the PM service? Is there maybe a site that walks you through the process of paying your bills?
Dean Short
January 17, 2022 at 4:41 pmHi Erika,
If you wish to run without a property manager to pay your bills, you best option is to pre-pay them when you are here. Pay it up for a year and then each time you’re back keep topping it up. I wouldn’t recommend having a property here without a property manager just for the peace of mind knowing someone is checking in case a pipe bursts or a toilet cracks. The networking section of this blog https://caborealestateservices.com/spanish-communication-networking/ tells you about Facebook groups to join to network with other owners like you to find a property manager.
Paul Stafford
July 7, 2022 at 1:45 pmCan I pay my Cabo Marina Sol Electric Bill from CA? Your write up about being able to pay way over the amount due is very helpful. So If I cant pay from home I will over pay it next time I’m out there.
Dean Short
July 8, 2022 at 9:08 amHi Paul,
Pre-paying works well for lots of people. Try Western Union for paying from California. I know someone who does this. Otherwise a local US Dollar bank account will allow you to pay online and with the CFE Contigo app.
Good luck!
Dean