Electricity In Spain

Spain’s electricity market is dominated by 3 main suppliers: Grupo Endesa, Iberdrola & Gas Natural Fenosa. Combined the 3 electricity suppliers account for an estimated 50% of the Spanish electricity market.

While still highly concentrated, a number of smaller electricity suppliers have entered the market since deregulation in 1998. There are now more than 50 electricity companies active in Spain’s electricity market.

Recent entrants have captured market share by servicing Spain’s large expat community. Dealing with local electricity suppliers has often been a frustrating experience for expats and, by providing customer support in English, providers have been able to address many of the pain points experienced by foreigners living in Spain.

Click here for a list of electricity suppliers in Spain.

Accessing Electricity In Spain

After buying or renting a property, among the first things that you should do is make sure that you are connected to electricity. If the place you have just moved in to is already connected with electricity, you will have to think about the supplier you wish to be with. If there is no electricity connected, then you will need to contact the local distributor.

The distribution company is always different from the supply company since they are always assigned a specific operational area. So it’s impossible to choose your distributor. The distribution companies are Endesa, Iberdrola, EDP/HC, Union Fenosa and Viesgo.

If you purchase a home in Spain, the estate agent may make arrangements for utilities to be transferred to your name. Also, make sure that all the bills have been paid and the contract is put under your name.

Choosing An Electricity Supplier in Spain

 You will need to choose an electricity supplier when setting up utilities in Spain. If you purchase a property that already has power connected and don’t want to change suppliers, you have to contact the supplier and give them the details of the new person paying the bills. When changing the supplier, you will have to contact the desired supplier company and give them the following details:

• Name, tax number and contact details of the contract holder.
• Address of the property.
• Bank account details that you wish to be used to pay your bills.
• Your electricity installation certificate. All houses must indicate that their supply of electricity is safe.
• Your Unified supply point code which you will find on your electricity bills.

Paying Your Electricity Bill in Spain

In Spain, electricity bills can be paid in several ways. It’s advisable to pay your electricity bills by direct debit, preferably from a Spanish bank account. Moving to smart meters will eliminate estimated bills and worries of paying more than the required amount. You can also pay your bills through the post office, local banks or at the electricity company’s office.

Spain Power Supply

Most parts of Spain receive an electricity supply of 220 volts AC at a frequency of 50 hertz. On the other hand, some areas receive 110- and 220-volt in the same house. Most appliances made for 240 volts will operate on a 220 volts power supply. At times, Spain always faces a shortage of electric points in some homes with maybe just one electric point per room. Multi-plug adapters may come in handy here. You may need several plugs and adapters in your home to help with the power supply.