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22 Jaunary 2026
Who owns the electricity grid in Spain?
The electricity grid in Spain does not belong to a single entity. It consists of two distinct infrastructures: the transmission grid and the distribution network, with different functions, responsibilities, and ownership models, defined by law and supervised by public bodies.
Who owns the Spanish electricity grid?
The electricity grid in Spain is an infrastructure designed to carry electricity from where it is generated to where it is consumed. Although it functions as a single system, it is organised into two large interrelated grids that form part of the same national electricity structure and which, in turn, connect with other systems via international interconnections.
- The transmission grid is responsible for moving large volumes of electricity over long distances, from the main generation centres to consumption areas and the system's major electrical nodes.
- The distribution network is responsible for bringing that electricity to the final points of consumption. Through this network, energy reaches homes, businesses, public services, and the majority of industrial activity, adapting to different voltage and demand levels.
Both grids work in a coordinated manner. Electricity is generated in power stations and production parks, transmitted over long distances via the transmission grid, and from there, it is distributed and adapted via the distribution network until it reaches the various supply points. They are not independent grids, but rather complementary parts within the same electricity system.
Alongside this generation in large facilities, it is becoming increasingly common to produce electricity close to where it is consumed, for example, via solar self-consumption or other small production points, known as distributed generation.
This energy connects directly to the distribution network, which not only carries electricity to homes and businesses but also integrates local production into the overall system.
¿Cómo llega la electricidad desde su origen hasta el consumidor final?
1. Generación de electricidad
Producción de electricidad en grandes instalaciones y en puntos cercanos al consumo, como el autoconsumo solar.
Fuentes de energía:
Hidroeléctrica
Eólica
Solar
Nuclear
Ciclo combinado
2. Red de transporte
Conducción de la electricidad desde los grandes puntos de generación a largas distancias.
3. Red de distribución
Adaptación y reparto de la electricidad a los puntos de consumo.
4. Puntos de consumo
Uso final de la electricidad por parte de hogares, empresas y servicios.
This structure exists for technical and safety reasons. The transmission of large volumes of electricity requires very high voltage lines, substations, electrical nodes, and specific control systems.
In contrast, distribution requires a more capillary network, formed of medium and low voltage lines, transformer stations, and local networks integrated into the environment and adapted to different consumption patterns.
For this reason, Spanish legislation distinguishes between transmission and distribution, assigning distinct functions, responsibilities, and management models to each network, even though both form part of the same national electricity system.
From this structure, key questions arise: Who owns each part of the grid? Who is in charge of its management? What role does each of them play within the electricity system as a whole?
What is the transmission grid?
The transmission grid is the infrastructure that allows electricity to travel long distances.
It is the physical backbone connecting large generation facilities – hydroelectric, nuclear, and thermal power stations, wind parks, or solar plants – with the electrical nodes from which energy is distributed.
It operates at high and very high voltage, at 220 kV and 400 kV, levels necessary to reduce losses and maintain system stability when transmitting large quantities of electricity. In Spain, the transmission grid operates mostly at 400 kilovolts (kV) and 220 kV on the peninsula, and at 220 kV, 132 kV, and 66 kV in the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands.
This grid does not only connect points within the peninsular territory. It also integrates the island systems and international interconnections, which reinforce security of supply and allow for energy exchanges with other countries.
The Spanish transmission grid exceeds 45,000 kilometres of lines, which gives an idea of its scale and technical complexity. Its design and operation must anticipate demand peaks, variations in renewable generation, and exceptional situations, such as cold snaps or heatwaves.
Who manages the transmission grid in Spain?
In Spain, the transmission grid is managed by Red Eléctrica de España (REE). The law assigns it a clear role within the electricity system: it is, simultaneously, the the transmission agent and the Transmission System Operator (TSO).
It is responsible for coordinating the electricity system as a whole, without participating in the generation or retailing of electricity.
As the transmission agent, Red Eléctrica is responsible for designing, building, and maintaining the high-voltage grid.
As the system operator, it coordinates production and consumption in real time to guarantee that electricity flows safely.
The activity of the electricity transmission grid is governed by Law 24/2013 of the Electricity Sector and its implementing regulations, and is supervised by the CNMC and the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.
What is the electricity distribution network?
The distribution network is the infrastructure that connects the transmission grid with consumption points. It is the most visible part of the electricity system for the public, as it includes the lines, transformer stations, and substations present in towns, cities, and industrial estates.
The distribution network operates mainly at medium and low voltage, although distributors also manage high voltage lines, adapting electricity for its final use:
- Low voltage distribution: up to 1 kV (230/400 V).
- Medium voltage distribution: >1 kV up to 35 kV (usually 20–30 kV).
- High voltage distribution: from 36 kV.
This adaptation is necessary for electricity to arrive safely in homes or industrial facilities.
Distribution has a marked territorial character. Its design and evolution are linked to urban growth, industrial development, and the specific needs of each area.
Who manages the distribution network in Spain?
Unlike the transmission grid, the electricity distribution network in Spain is not owned or managed by a single company. It is a regulated infrastructure held by various distributors, each responsible for a specific geographical area.
In total, more than 300 distribution companies operate in Spain, although the vast majority of supply points are concentrated in five large distributors, which manage the network in most of the territory:
- e-distribución: operates in areas of Andalucía, Aragón, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Cataluña, and Extremadura.
- -DE: manages distribution in much of the central, northern, and north-western peninsula, as well as the Comunidad Valenciana and Murcia.
- UFD: present in Galicia, Castilla-La Mancha, and other areas of the central peninsula.
- E-Redes: operates in Asturias and some areas of the north.
- Viesgo Distribución: with a presence in Cantabria and bordering areas.
Cinco grandes distribuidoras lideran la gestión de la red eléctrica en el país
E-REDES: Representado por el color rosa en el mapa.
Viesgo Distribución: Representado por el color rojo.
UFD: Representado por el color naranja.
i-DE: Representado por el color verde.
e-distribución: Representado por el color azul.
In addition to these large distributors, there are local distributors operating in very specific scopes, such as specific municipalities or counties, especially in rural areas.
The distributor does not depend on the supplier with which the consumer contracts electricity and cannot be chosen, as its designation is determined by the physical location of the supply point.
They all operate under a regulated framework, with technical, service quality, and investment obligations defined by law and supervised by public bodies.
What are distributors responsible for?
Electrical distributors have functions delimited by Spanish regulations. They do not sell electricity nor do they set prices. Their responsibility focuses on the distribution infrastructure.
Their tasks include:
- Maintaining and preserving the distribution network.
- Expanding the network when necessary to meet new demands.
- Managing incidents and faults.
- Installing and operating electricity meters.
Their objective is to guarantee a continuous and quality supply, regardless of the supplier.
The electricity grid in Spain does not belong to a single entity. The transmission grid belongs mostly to Red Eléctrica de España, which also acts as the national electricity system operator. The distribution network belongs to various distributors, responsible for the local infrastructure.