Utilities in Spain
Electricity: Immediately
after buying or renting a property you should sign a contract with
the local electricity company. This will entail a visit to the local
office in order to register.
You
need to take with you some identification (passport or residence
card) and the contract and bills paid by the
previous owner.
The electricity supply
in most of Spain is 220 volts AC with a frequency of 50 hertz (cycles).
Some areas still have a 110 volt supply though.
Power cuts are frequent in many areas of Spain. When it rains heavily the electricity
supply can become very unstable. If you live in an area where cuts are frequent
and you rely on electricity for your livelihood, e.g. for operating a computer,
fax machine and other equipment, it may be a good idea to install a backup
generator.
You will be billed bi-monthly for electricity.
Gas: Mains gas is available in major cities only in Spain.
When moving into a property with mains gas, you must contact the local gas
company to have the
gas switched on, the meter read and to sign a supply contract. As with electricity,
you're billed every two months and bills include VAT (IVA) at 16 per cent.
Gas bottles (bombonas)
are delivered to homes by Repsol Butano (the company responsible for
distributing gas bottles), for which a contract is required.
Water: The supply of water is a major concern in Spain -
the price paid for the beautiful weather.
Water is controlled
by local municipalities, many of which have their own wells. In some
municipalities, water distribution is the
responsibility of a private
company.
The cost of connection
for a new home can vary from 50 to 300 Euros. In most areas there is
a standing quarterly charge for a minimum
consumption.
For more in depth
information on this topic, we highly recommend:
Living
and Working in Spain: A Survival Guide
Click the link above
to check the price at Amazon UK.
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