Pros and cons of the Energy Regulatory Reform according to a sustainable development paradigm

Abstract

The Mexican Energy Regulatory Reform initiative, proposed by Enrique Peña Nieto President of the Republic on 2013, and approved the same year, has been a controversial subject since the beginning. Yet, due to the lack of information, there are two positions on the subject that are totally polarized. While some are in favor without making any question, others stand completely against it. Without a doubt, the energy reform is a great development opportunity for the country. However, that is no excuse for us to neglect the little aspects. It is truly important for us to know the advantages and disadvantages, the coherences and incoherencies that this law presents. This way, we can demand whichever change is necessary to promote an integrated reform that is inclusive and democratic, sustainable economic and environmentally, that takes into account social impacts, and consistent with the existing laws. For this article, a recompilation of information and arguments coming from different positions on the subject was made, which serve as basis for the making of an analysis. This documentary research was primarily based on the documents presented by different research centers, like Centro de Investigación para el Desarrollo (Development Research Center) and Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental (Mexican Environmental Law Center), on the energetic forecasts generated by the Mexican Secretary of Energy and the U. S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), as well as on experts' opinion found in published media. The analysis results in a document that shows the pros and cons of the energy regulatory reform, as well as a series of propositions that foster the strengthening of a regulation that acknowledges all its implications (social, environmental and economic) and not only energetic.