Services - Electricity, Gas, Water & Telephone - in Spain

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Services - Electricity, Gas, Water & Telephone - in Spain

Telephone Service in Spain 

The national Spanish telephone company, Telefónica, is responsible for providing the land line telephone service in Spain. 

To have a landline telephone installed, connected or reconnected, visit the local Telefónica office. Telefónica has a commercial office (Oficina Comercial) or a client service office (Oficina de Atención al Usuario) in each province. 

• Telefónica Customer Service Tel: 1004
  If calling from abroad Tel: 0034 917 040 319

Note: They request you have the following information to hand when calling: a Telefónica bill (if possible) or a recent utility (electricity) bill, the NIE and passport number and bank account details

Telefónica in English is an independent service acting as agents for Telefónica products and services. They provide an online service helping people to get connected.

• Telefónica In English

Getting connected

When requesting a line installation provide the following: 

• Identification: a passport or residence permit (residencia)
• Proof of address: a recent electricity bill, copy of property deed (Escritura) or rental contract

If a property has a line installed the account can be transferred to an incoming resident's name. Arrange for re-connection and then set up the standing order with your bank to pay both connection and phone bills. Check that all previous bills have been paid to avoid being liable for the outstanding money.

Bills (facturas), which include VAT (IVA) at 16 percent, are generally sent monthly and allow 20 days for payment. Itemised bills (factura detallada) are provided, listing all numbers called with the date and time, duration and the charge.

Bills can be paid by direct debit (domiciliación bancaria), in cash at most banks or in cash at a Telefónica office. Cheques aren't normally accepted. Present your bill with the payment and you will receive a receipt.

Cellular/Mobile telephones

There are several mobile cellular telephone service providers in Spain:

• Movistar (in Spanish)
• Orange (in Spanish)
• Vodafone  
• Ono (in Spanish)
• Tele 2 (in Spanish)

Contracts: Connection, services offered and monthly service charges vary depending on the provider and it is recommended to compare the prices and services offered.

Pay as you go: The pre-paid card (tarjeta prepago) provides a number and a certain amount of call-time ("credit"). The credit must be used within a year, after which the card must be renewed or the phone number will cease to function. 

Cards can be bought at a number of places: tobacconists (estancos), newsagents, supermarkets, petrol stations and from telephone card machines.

• See AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Getting a Telephone & Internet Connection in Spain

Electricity Service in Spain

It is necessary to have a contract with the local electricity company in order to receive electricity. In general, the information needed to get power connected is the following:

First-time connection for a new-build house:

• Connection certificate (Boletin de Enganche). This must be supplied by the electrician who installed all electrical wiring
• The First Occupation Licence (Licencia de Primera ocupación or Certificado de Habitabilidad) available from a Town Hall

For all electrical connections:

• A copy of the last electricity bill to the property
• Identification (passport or Spanish NIE number)
• If renting, details of the rental contract or details from the property title deeds
• Bank account details in order to set up payment of the bi-monthly bills on Standing Order

Once the contract is set up, bills will be received by post, showing the total amount that will be debited from the bank account.

To cancel the contract it is necessary to write a letter to the supplying company asking them to stop the service. Attach a copy of the passport identity page or Spanish NIE number.

The electricity supply in most of Spain is 220 volts AC with a frequency of 50 hertz (cycles).

Electricity companies

• Endesa
  Tel: 915 668 800 
• Iberdrola
  Tel: 901 202 020 
• Unión Eléctrica Fenosa
  Tel: 914 068 000 

Water Supply in Spain 

The seller of the house or the landlord must supply the new resident with the most recent water bills paid to the utility company. (The Town Hall provides information on which water company supplies a property.)

The following documents are necessary to obtain water:

• Photocopy of the property title deed (Escritura) or rental contract of the property in the applicants name
• Photocopy of the passport or Spanish NIE number
• Official water installation certificate (Boletin del agua) provided by a certified plumber (new property)
• Payment of the contract fee
• Bank account details in order to set up payment of bills on Standing Order.

Gas 

When moving into a property with mains gas (usually only in the larger cities), contact the local gas company to have the gas switched on, the meter read and to sign a supply contract. A bill will be sent bi-monthly (every two months), which will include VAT (IVA) at 16 percent. Gas can be paid by direct debit (transferencia).

If there is no mains gas, butane bottled gas (bombonas) can be delivered or may be available from local petrol stations depending on the area. 

A contract with a supplier is needed in order to receive bottled gas. Before this contract is approved, the supplier will require a safety inspection where it will check the property where the gas appliance is to be used. Once complete, the contract will be drawn. A bottle deposit is due. Appliances must be serviced every five years (servicing can be arranged through the bottled-gas supplier or an authorised distributor). 

Gas companies

• Repsol Butano (the largest Spanish bottled gas supplier)
• CEPSA 
  Tel: 913 376 000 
• Gas Natural
  Tel: 902 199 199

Further Information

• AngloINFO INFOrmation page Domestic Electricity in Spain
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page Telefónica: Telephones in Spain