Spain’s government approves emergency plan for additional gas savings between 5 and 13%

The Government of Spain has approved emergency planconsisting of a total of 73 measures, with the aim of additional savings on the consumption of natural gas in the Spanish state between 5.1 and 13.5% between last August and May 2023, the period set by the European Commission to face this autumn-winter in the current context of crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. In this regard, the Spanish government will extend protection to vulnerable consumers, reduce bills for communal boilers and provide tax incentives for households to invest in efficiency.

For example, at a press conference after the Council of Ministers, the third Vice-President of the Government of Spain and Minister for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera, indicated that this plan, called ‘Increased energy security’, aims to “strengthening the strategic vision and guaranteeing energy price affordability and solidarity with the rest of Europeans”.

Ribera, who has emphasized that the situation of the Spanish state for the coming winter “is not the same as that experienced” by other European countries historically more dependent on Russian gas, has emphasized that for the preparation of this plan more than 90 proposals, to work on a document “built from dialogue”. In addition, as far as the volatility of the current context, it is envisaged that it can be updated. Ribera, appreciating the consensus reached with all parties involved for the preparation of the plan, has indicated that the intention is to continue this dialogue and that a monthly monitoring system of the measures will be put in place.

This saving would be additional, according to the average of the last five years, as the reduction in demand would currently amount to about 14 %, thus fulfilling the commitment made for Brussels of a reduction of about 6.4% in the period, according to sources from the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge of the Government of Spain. Likewise, they added that the degree of compliance towards the lower or higher end of the range will depend on the level of penetration of the various actions.

six big blocks

In concrete terms, the plan, consisting of 73 measures, is divided into six large blocks: saving and efficiency, promoting the ecological transition, consumer protection, taxation, energy autonomy and solidarity with Europe.

One of the most important measures, whose regulatory framework should be developed in the shortest possible time, is to extend the protection of vulnerable consumers, with greater coverage for the thermal and electricity bonus and a larger proportion of the population with protection, and the are working on a proposal for community boilers (affecting some 1.6 million households, currently unable to use the TUR for natural gas), to cut their bill this winter, ministry sources have indicated.

Likewise, the Spanish government will continue to promote self-consumption, with an additional €500 million in support on top of the €900 million already approved and with the extension of the 500 meters for self-consumption through the network.

It also includes the approval of increased fiscal support to encourage investment by households in the energy transition, with the Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge working with the Treasury portfolio.

In addition, the measures are also aimed at stimulating public financing for SMEs and giving more support to industry. Similarly, the government of Spain wants the public sector to contribute to the achievement of the plan’s objectives.

Regarding special lights for christmas, the plan does not specifically refer to it, and only proposes that all government departments adjust their energy consumption where possible. In this way it has been made clear that nothing is prohibited, but consumption is moderated where there is perceived margin, and all on a consensus basis.