Additional social and economic measures approved by the Government to mitigate the impact of COVID-19

The Government has approved Royal Decree-Law 11/2020, published on 1 April, with 54 new measures additional to those already approved to mitigate the economic and social impact of COVID-19. The new package of measures includes:

• Measures aimed at vulnerable families and groups (with an important focus on the moratorium on mortgage and rent payments)
  
• Measures to support the self-employed
• Consumer protection measures
• Support for industry
• Supply flexibility for SMEs and the self-employed

In relation to energy operators and companies supplying basic services, the Royal Decree-Law establishes that:

• Cut-offs of energy and water supplies to habitual residences will be prohibited while the state of alarm is in force. This measure applies to the entire population. Likewise, the period of time during which the state of alarm is in force will not count for the purposes of the deadlines for supply suspension procedures initiated prior to said period.
• Measures will be applied to make electricity and natural gas supply contracts flexible for the self-employed and businesses, in addition to more technical measures to allow for the proper functioning of these essential services (moratorium on the payment of supplies for the self-employed and SMEs, who may, in addition, adapt their contracts to their new consumer realities, without facing any penalty from their supply companies).
  

These measures, in force from 2 April, will remain in force until one month has passed from the end of the state of alarm, except for those with a specific duration.