Signing up for electricity is an essential step if you want to have power in your home, whether you are moving into a new property, changing supplier or simply need to activate the electricity supply after a period without service.
If you follow the right steps and have the necessary documents ready, the process is quick and straightforward.
Below, we explain the steps to follow, the requirements, the documents you need, the associated costs and how long it usually takes to have electricity at home.
Steps to sign up for electricity in your home
Signing up for electricity is a simple but necessary process. Here is a step-by-step guide to everything you need to do to activate the electricity supply in your home.
1. Check the status of the electricity supply
The first step before signing up for electricity is to check the status of your property. There are three possible scenarios:
- First occupancy: The property has never had electricity before. You need to start the process of activating the electricity supply from scratch. This means the distribution company will need to install the meter and verify the electrical installation.
- Second occupancy with the supply disconnected: The property has had electricity in the past, but the contract was cancelled. In this case, the process is usually quicker, as the meter only needs to be reactivated.
- Second occupancy with an active supply: If the property already has electricity in the name of the previous owner or tenant, the fastest option is usually to request a change of contract holder directly with the electricity supplier.
2. Contact the electricity supplier
Electricity suppliers such as Repsol are the companies that handle the administrative procedures needed so you can have electricity supply at home.
This process is very simple and can be carried out easily through our quote tool, where you can also compare the different tariffs available and choose the one that best suits your consumption.
3. Prepare the necessary documents
Before contacting the electricity supplier, gather all the necessary documents to speed up the process.
If you want to activate electricity online in Spain, you will usually need to provide personal details, the supply point information, your bank account details and the required technical documents. We explain each document in detail in the relevant section of this article.
4. Calculate the electrical power capacity you need
Choosing the right contracted power capacity is essential to avoid paying more than necessary or losing supply at peak times.
To calculate it, take the following into account:
- The size of your home: The larger the property, the more power capacity you may need.
- The appliances and electrical devices you will use at the same time.
- Whether you have electric heating, air conditioning or an induction hob, as these can significantly increase demand.
As a reference, an average home in Spain usually contracts between 3.45 kW and 5.75 kW of power capacity.
5. Calculate the cost of signing up for electricity
There are fixed charges that you will need to pay to your local distribution company when signing up for electricity in your home.
We explain these costs in detail in the section below.
Requirements to sign up for electricity
To sign up for electricity correctly, your home must meet the following requirements:
- Valid Electrical Installation Certificate, or CIE: This document, known in Spanish as the boletín eléctrico, certifies that the property’s electrical installation is safe and complies with regulations. It is valid for 20 years.
- Approved electricity meter: The meter must be installed and in good working condition. In new-build homes, it is installed by the distribution company.
- Available electricity connection: The property must be connected to the distribution grid. In newly built properties, this procedure is managed by the developer or owner with the distribution company before requesting electricity activation.
- CUPS code: The CUPS, or Universal Supply Point Code, is the unique identification code for your electricity supply point. You can find it on previous bills or request it from your local distribution company.
What information is required to activate electricity online in Spain?
When activating electricity supply, you will usually need to provide the following information and documents:
- The DNI or NIE of the contract holder.
- A valid Electrical Installation Certificate, or CIE / boletín eléctrico. In second occupancy homes, if the installation is less than 20 years old, the existing certificate may be valid.
- The property deed or rental agreement, to prove that you are the owner or tenant of the property.
- A bank account number, or IBAN, to set up direct debit payments.
- The CUPS code of the supply point.
- The contracted power capacity you want for your home.
- For companies: The deed of incorporation, power of attorney or property deeds. One of these documents is usually sufficient, provided it includes the property details and the signing authority of the representative.
For first occupancy homes, some Autonomous Communities may also require a certificate of occupancy or a first occupancy licence issued by the local council.
How much does it cost to sign up for electricity?
The costs of signing up for electricity are set by the Government and are the same throughout Spain, regardless of the electricity supplier you choose. These are known as connection charges and are collected by your local distribution company through your first bill.
The breakdown is as follows, excluding VAT:
- Extension rights: €17.37 for each kW contracted.
- Access rights: €19.70 for each kW contracted.
- Hook-up rights: €9.04 as a fixed amount.
For example, for a home with a contracted power capacity of 3.45 kW, which is one of the most common levels in Spanish households:
- Extension rights: €17.37 × 3.45 kW = €59.93
- Access rights: €19.70 × 3.45 kW = €67.97
- Hook-up rights: €9.04
- Total including VAT at 21%: Approximately €165.70
After these initial costs, the price of your tariff will depend on the power capacity you have contracted and how efficiently you consume electricity. The higher your consumption, the higher the final amount on your bill.
You may be able to save on these costs if the electricity supply at your property has been disconnected for less than three years and you do not change the contracted power capacity. In this case, the extension rights may still be valid, meaning you would not need to pay them again, which can significantly reduce the initial cost.
How long does it take to sign up for electricity?
The time it takes to have electricity in your home depends on the type of procedure you need.
As a general guide:
- New electricity registrations: For both first occupancy homes and second occupancy homes with disconnected supply, the process usually takes between 5 and 20 business days. The timeframe depends on whether the distribution company needs to install the meter, carry out the connection work or simply reactivate the existing supply.
- Change of contract holder: This usually takes between 2 and 3 business days. The electricity supply is not interrupted at any point; the change is reflected on the next bill.
- Change of electricity supplier: This usually takes between 3 and 7 business days. As with a change of contract holder, the electricity supply is not cut off during the process.
The CNMC, Spain’s National Markets and Competition Commission, establishes that once the electricity supplier sends the request to the distribution company, the latter has a maximum of 10 business days to activate the supply.
To speed up the process, it is important to have all the documentation ready before starting the procedure: DNI or NIE, address, bank account number, CUPS code and a valid Electrical Installation Certificate.
Frequently asked questions
In Spain, the Electrical Installation Certificate, or CIE / boletín eléctrico, is generally required to sign up for electricity.
This document specifies the type of installation, the installed power capacity and the maximum admissible capacity, and certifies that the installation is safe.
However, in second occupancy homes where the supply has been disconnected for less than three years and the existing certificate is less than 20 years old, the distribution company will usually accept it without requiring renewal.
If you do not have the certificate, you will need to contact an authorised installer.
The installer will inspect the electrical installation to check its condition and ensure it complies with current regulations. If everything is in order, they will issue the certificate and register it with the relevant authority.
Yes, this is possible in certain cases, although it depends on the Autonomous Community and the type of property:
- Second occupancy: In regions such as Andalusia, Aragón, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Galicia, Madrid and the Basque Country, the certificate of occupancy is not required; a valid Electrical Installation Certificate (CIE) is sufficient.
- Supply reactivation: If the supply was disconnected for less than three years, you are not normally required to submit the certificate of occupancy again.
- Commercial premises, offices or industrial units: These do not need a certificate of occupancy, as this document applies exclusively to residential properties.
- New-build properties: The First Occupancy Licence usually replaces the certificate of occupancy.
However, in regions such as Catalonia, the Valencian Community, the Balearic Islands, Cantabria, Asturias, Extremadura, La Rioja, Murcia and Navarre, the regulations are stricter, and a valid certificate of occupancy is usually required to process the sign-up.
Now that you know all the steps, requirements, documents and timeframes, signing up for electricity in your home is much simpler than it may seem.
If you have all the documentation ready and choose the right contracted power capacity, the process can be completed in just a few days. To optimise your bill, it is also important to choose a tariff that suits your consumption habits.