The Spanish electricity market was deregulated in 2003. Many homes in urbanised areas now have a choice of electricity suppliers, although in rural areas it is unlikely for there to be more than one supplier. Frequently in the more remote areas no mains electricity is available so it is necessary to rely on a generator.

Spanish electricity is generated at 220 volts and most UK appliances will be compatible with this supply. Whilst the use of adaptor plugs in the short term will suffice, if your move is a permanent one, it is a low cost and simple procedure to change any plugs to the Spanish equivalents. These are widely available to purchase in hardware stores or larger supermarkets.

Also to bear in mind is that in some parts of Spain power cuts can be quite frequent and it would be worth investing in both an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) along with a surge protector for your computer.

One of the most important factors about electricity usage in Spain is that you have to determine what you will actually use on a day to day basis. Once you have calculated this you need to obtain a contract from the local electricity supplier for the correct power rating (potencia) of electricity to be supplied to you. The normal range for a modest home is from 2.2kw to 5.5kw. The higher the power rating you opt for, the higher will be the standing charge; however it is not a good idea to deliberately under specify your requirements as these supplies have an automated cut-off if exceeded.

You will receive your electricity bill every two months, usually after meter has been read. Electricity companies in Spain are allowed to make an estimate of your consumption each second period without reading the meter. Although bills can be paid at a post office, in local banks listed on the reverse of the bill or in cash at the electricity company’s office, it is advisable set up a direct debit (transferencia) from a Spanish bank account. This is particularly preferable if you own a holiday home and you can, if you wish, have the bills sent to an address abroad.

Some electricity companies allow their customers to pay a set amount (cuota fija) monthly regardless of consumption. At the end of the year the actual consumption is calculated and the customer either pays the outstanding amount or in the case of overpayment the electricity company will arrange a refund of the amount overpaid. This is a good idea if you need to stick to a monthly budget; however the downside is that the monthly payment may be set deliberately high in the first year.

More information on electricity supply in the province of Granada can be found at here