Dozens of families of farmworkers from Villa Juárez, Navolato, protested this Tuesday at the Sinaloa State Congress to demand a solution to the exorbitant electricity bills that, they claim, have jeopardized the finances of hundreds of households.
The protesters arrived at the legislative building at 9:00 a.m., carrying signs and chanting slogans to denounce bills issued by the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) that, they stated, range from 5,000 to 50,000 pesos every two months.
The demonstrators warned that they would remain at the Congress until they received a concrete response from state and federal authorities, as well as from the state-owned company itself.
During the protest, the residents of Villa Juárez pointed out that the extraordinary charges began this year and that many families lack the resources to pay the amounts demanded.
Among the voices participating in the mobilization, Sonia López Borbolla stood out, stating that numerous users have received bills with unusually high amounts.
“There are bills for 45,000 pesos, others for 10,000 pesos, and many for 15,000 pesos. In my case, I received one for 14,695 pesos, something that has never happened before,” she said.
Those affected maintain that the only alternative offered by the CFE (Federal Electricity Commission) has been the signing of payment agreements, a measure they consider insufficient due to the high accumulated debts.
The signs displayed during the demonstration included messages addressed to the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, whom they asked to intervene to resolve the problem.
The farmworkers argued that the economic situation of many families has become complicated due to the decrease in job opportunities and other factors affecting the region, making it impossible for them to cover debts of tens of thousands of pesos.
“There are families who have to choose between paying their electricity bill or buying food for their children,” some participants pointed out.
In addition to the high charges, the protesters denounced alleged power outages in homes where minors live.
They recounted cases in which service was suspended without prior notice, a situation that, they claim, directly affects children and vulnerable people.
The residents demanded that the outages be suspended while the charges are reviewed and it is determined whether there are any irregularities in the billing.
The protesters reiterated that they will remain at the State Congress until they are heard by legislators and the relevant authorities.
They also requested individual reviews of the bills, support mechanisms for the affected families, and dialogue sessions with representatives from the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE).
“We want them to listen to us and review each case individually. We are not leaving until we have an answer,” they declared during the demonstration.
The protest highlighted the concerns of hundreds of families in Villa Juárez, one of the most important agricultural communities in Sinaloa, where farm workers say that high electricity bills have become a problem that threatens their economy and quality of life.
Source: jornada
