Following last year’s major blackout in Spain and Portugal, Spain’s energy watchdog, CNMC, has opened formal investigations into several of the country’s biggest energy companies.
The regulator is examining grid operator Red Eléctrica de España (REE), along with Iberdrola, Naturgy, Endesa and Repsol, as well as several power plants.
What is the regulator looking at?
The CNMC believes some companies may have breached power sector rules over an extended period. It is investigating REE for “very serious” potential infringements, while it is reviewing the other firms for “serious” ones.
That difference matters. CNMC president Cani Fernández has warned that the most serious breaches could lead to fines of up to €60 million.
Did these breaches cause the blackout?
The regulator does not link the alleged breaches directly to the blackout. Instead, it points to a chain of events that destabilised the system, with a sudden voltage surge triggering the outage.
However, the CNMC says the suspected breaches may have influenced how the system operated, which is why it has launched formal proceedings.
How are the companies responding?
REE says it is reviewing the decision and insists earlier technical reports found no breach that could have caused the blackout.
The other companies have either declined to comment or have not responded.
What happens next?
The investigations will take time. The CNMC expects the process to last between nine and 18 months, depending on the severity of the case.
Each company can now present evidence and defend its position, so the final outcome remains open.
