Data Center Power & Policy in Guatemala

Power tariff (1)

• Power tariffIn force21 Mar 1997

  Reglamento de la LGE (Acuerdo Gubernativo 256-97): Gran Usuario threshold 100 kW

  A Gran Usuario is any consumer whose power demand exceeds 100 kW (or a lower limit MEM may set). Large users are not price-regulated and freely negotiate supply with the distributor or any other supplier (generator or marketer), paying network tolls; consumers at or below 100 kW pay CNEE-set tariffs. Art. 19 lets MEM lower the 100 kW limit, even to zero, with two years' notice. Practically every data center qualifies as a Gran Usuario.

  100 kW (Gran Usuario threshold)

  Presidencia / MEM; applied by CNEE and AMM · Effective 21 Mar 1997 · CNEE – Reglamento de la Ley General de Electricidad (RLGE.pdf)

Incentive (2)

• IncentiveIn force1 Jan 2008

  ZDEEP regime (Decreto 30-2008 amending ZOLIC Law, Decreto 22-73)

  Public Special Economic Development Zones (ZDEEP) are extra-customs areas authorised by ZOLIC (the state free-zone entity) for industrial, commercial and service activities. Users receive a 10-year 100% income tax exemption, VAT exemption on foreign-trade transactions and exemption from import duties (DAI) on inputs, machinery and equipment. Named ZDEEPs include Zona Franca Quetzal, Puerta del Istmo and Michatoya Pacifico. No ZDEEP rule names data centers specifically.

  10 years 100% ISR exemption

  ZOLIC (Zona Libre de Industria y Comercio Santo Tomás de Castilla)

• IncentiveIn force28 Oct 2003

  Ley de Incentivos para el Desarrollo de Proyectos de Energía Renovable (Decreto 52-2003)

  Renewable generation projects qualified by MEM get: exemption from import duties and VAT on generation machinery and equipment during pre-investment and construction (max 10 years); a 10-year income tax (ISR) exemption from the start of commercial operation; and a 10-year exemption from the Impuesto a las Empresas Mercantiles y Agropecuarias. Relevant to on-site or captive renewable plants built for data centers. Regulation: Acuerdo Gubernativo 211-2005.

  10 years ISR exemption

  Congreso de la Republica; MEM (qualification), SAT (import exemption) · Effective 11 Nov 2003 · CNEE – Ley de incentivos para el desarrollo de Energía Renovable

Regulation (2)

• RegulationIn force11 Jul 2016

  Reglamento de Evaluación, Control y Seguimiento Ambiental (Acuerdo Gubernativo 137-2016)

  All projects, works, industries or activities are classified through MARN's Listado Taxativo into category A (highest impact, incl. megaprojects), B1/B2 (moderate) or C (low impact, register only), which sets the environmental instrument required before construction. Projects not in the list are categorised by MARN on technical criteria; the list was issued as Acuerdo Ministerial 204-2019. Applies to data center construction and to associated generation or substations.

  Ministerio de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (MARN) · Effective 11 Jul 2016

• RegulationIn force16 Oct 1996

  Ley General de Electricidad (Decreto 93-96)

  Framework electricity law. Generation is free and needs no prior State authorisation (beyond constitutional/legal requirements); transport not using public-domain assets and private distribution are also free. Creates CNEE as regulator and MEM as policy body, sets up the Wholesale Market (run by AMM) and defines Gran Usuario by reference to the threshold in the regulation. A data center can build its own generation or buy power without a concession.

  Congreso de la Republica; text hosted by CNEE · Effective 15 Nov 1996 · CNEE – Ley General de Electricidad (LGE.pdf)

Plan or strategy (1)

• Plan or strategyIn force1 Jan 2026

  Plan de Expansión Indicativo del Sistema de Generación 2026-2050 (with Política Energética 2013-2027 targets)

  MEM's January 2026 indicative generation expansion plan restates national targets: 80% of electricity from renewables, 500 MW of new renewable investment and 1,500 km of new transmission lines (Política Energética 2013-2027). It finds all scenarios below the 80% target in 2026-2029, with several reaching it from 2032, and warns that load-flow studies for 2025-2026 show nodes outside operating limits, so grid reinforcement is urgent.

  80 % renewable generation target

  Ministerio de Energía y Minas (MEM) · Effective 1 Jan 2026 · MEM – PEIG 2026-2050

• RegulationProposed26 Aug 2025

  Iniciativa 6347 – Ley de Ciberseguridad (bill)

  Cybersecurity bill in Congress. Proposes a national cyber-incident response centre, new computer crimes (illicit access to or interception of data, computer fraud) and protection of critical infrastructure such as banking systems and telecom networks. Favourable opinion from the Comisión de Asuntos de Seguridad Nacional on 26 Aug 2025; still under review in Congress in mid-2026 per press. Not enacted; no data-center-specific provisions verified.

  Congreso de la Republica (Comisión de Asuntos de Seguridad Nacional)

• Plan or strategyAnnounced1 May 2025

  Licitación Abierta PEG-5-2025 (generation tender, 1,400 MW firm)

  Largest generation tender in Guatemala's history, run by the distributors under CNEE terms of reference (CNEE-270-2024; bases CNEE-108-2025 with Addendum 1 CNEE-287-2025). Seeks 1,400 MW of guaranteed capacity plus up to 150 MW of installed capacity, with supply starting 1 May 2030-2033 and contracts of up to 15 years. Offers were received 12 Feb 2026 (per press); the final award was not verified on an official page.

  1,400 MW guaranteed capacity

  CNEE; tendering distributors EEGSA, DEOCSA, DEORSA · Effective 1 May 2030