If you are planning to live and reside in Spain, you’re one of the many who has taken that big step – and you will certainly not regret it. There’s no doubt about it: it’s fun to live in Spain, what with the nice weather, the beaches, the sunshine, the people, the food, the sights and attractions, and the beaches (it’s worth a second mention). But if you decide to live in Spain and perhaps look for property to rent or buy, you do have some responsibilities when it comes to fixing your utility connections. Even if someone else will help you, such as your estate agent, it still pays to know what you are up against in terms of utility connections in Spain. Here, then, is how to properly set up and fix your utility connections if you live in Spain.
Setting up electricity
There are several major electricity providers in Spain, and this includes Iberdrola, Hidrocantabrico, Union Fenosa, and the largest, Groupo Endesa. Since the energy and electricity market has already become liberalised, you can select the company which provides your electricity. It’s important to note, though, that in some areas, there is still only one provider.
Once you rent or buy property, one of the first things you should do is check if the electricity is connected. If you are fortunate enough to find a property where there is still live electricity, you then just have to decide which provider you want. But if the property isn’t connected, you will have to visit the local provider or distributor. The distributor is often different from the supplier, as the distributor is assigned per area, so you can’t select your distributor, only your supplier. If the property requires a connection, you will receive a visit from the technician of the distributor. If you have purchased your own home, your estate agent, such as an estate agent from Watkins Wilson who specialises in apartments, homes, and villas for sale in Moraira, may be able to make arrangements for your utilities or go with you to the local office. You can then have your name placed on the contract for electricity.
There are also some costs for connection, such as a connection charge, an inspection charge, a security deposit, the cost of the meter, and extension and access connection charges.
Setting up water
Water is readily available in Spain, so this shouldn’t be too much of a problem. You can also easily drink tap water without any worries. The provision of water services is taken care of by each municipality, and there is also a public provider for each municipality. Although there are some private providers, most people use public providers. The contract for water should be in your name unless you are renting, so to register ownership, you can contact the local city or town hall. For this, you need to present an ID and proof of residence or address in Spain.
When it comes to other utilities, such as mains gas and waste disposal, your estate agent can likely help you with this as well. Always make sure that the previous tenants’ or owners’ bills have been paid, however, so you don’t end up paying for overdue bills.
