The framework of the national energy sector responds to the provisions of Articles 25, 27 and 28 of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States. The constitutional mandate establishes, first, that the Nation has the exclusive right to directly control oil and all solid, liquid or gas hydrogen carbides.

Secondly, the Nation has the exclusive right to generate, direct, transform, distribute and supply electricity that is intended for the provision of public services, as well as to use nuclear combustibles for the generation of nuclear energy and to regulate its use for other purposes.

Thirdly, the Constitution establishes a difference between strategic areas: exclusive State functions that do not constitute a monopoly, and activities that are important for development, in which the State can participate individually or jointly with the private and public sectors, maintaining control and granting concessions or permits. Examples of the first area in the energy sector are oil and other hydrocarbons, basic petrochemistry, radioactive minerals, electricity and the generation of nuclear energy.

Lastly, the Constitution dictates that the State will have at its disposal the organizations and companies required for the efficient administration both of the strategic areas and the priority activities.

Secondary laws, guidelines and official regulations that control activity within the Mexican energy sector are based on the contents of constitutional Article 27 and in accordance with Articles 25 y 28.

Below is a list of the laws related to the energy sector in Mexico.

General Powers
· Political Constitution of the United Mexican States
· Federal Law of Responsibilities of Public Servants
· Planning Law
· Expropriation Law
· Law on Acquisitions, Leases and Public Sector Services
· Law on Public Works and Related Services
· Federal Law on Administrative Process
· Federal Law on Metrology and Standardization
· Regulation of the Federal Law on Metrology and Standardization

Organic Powers
· Organic Law of the Federal Public Administration (Art. 33)
· Interior Regulation of the Secretariat of Energy (in effect as of June 19, 2001)

Sectoral Powers
· Federal Law on State-owned Companies
· Regulation of the Federal Law on State-owned Companies
· Federal Registry of Business Procedures (regulatory improvement)

Electricity
· Public Service Law on Electricity
· Regulation of the Public Service Law on Electricity
· Regulation of the Public Service Law on Electricity regarding Contributions
· Decree creating the National Energy Saving Commission
· Internal Regulation of the National Energy Saving Commission
· Decree creating the Energy Regulating Commission
· Law on the Energy Regulating Commission

Electricity (Sectoral Legislation)
· Organic Law on Public Administration
· Decree creating Luz y Fuerza del Centro

Nuclear Energy
· Regulatory Law of constitutional Article 27 regarding Nuclear Energy
· Law on Civil Responsibility for Nuclear Damage
· General Regulation on Radiological Safety

Nuclear Energy (Sectoral Legislation)
· Political Constitution of the United Mexican States
· Organic Law on Federal Public Administration
· General Law on Ecological Equilibrium and Environmental Protection
· General Law on Health

Hydrocarbons

Oil
· Regulatory Law on constitutional Article 27 in the Oil Sector
· Regulation of the Regulatory Law on constitutional Article 27 in the Oil Sector
· Organic Law on Petróleos Mexicanos and Subsidiary Organizations
· Regulation of the Organic Law on Petróleos Mexicanos
· Oil Sector Employment Regulation

Oil (Sectoral Legislation)
· Political Constitution of the United Mexican States
· Organic Law on Public Administration
· Organic Law on Petróleos Mexicanos and Subsidiary Organizations

Natural Gas and LP Gas
· Natural Gas Regulation
· Liquefied Petroleum Gas Regulation

Gas (Sectoral Legislation)
· Decree adding the Interior Regulation of the Secretariat of Energy
· Decree attaching the General Gas Office to the Secretariat of Energy

Source: Secretariat of Energy