The Spanish government, led by Pedro Sánchez, faces a deadlock after the majority of lawmakers rejected a decree-law intended to strengthen the security of the electrical grid. This decision comes in the context of an energy crisis that occurred on April 28, which had paralyzed the Iberian Peninsula for nearly ten hours. Despite support from 165 lawmakers, the bill did not pass the Congress, blocked by 183 votes from several parties, including the Popular Party (Partido Popular, PP), Vox, and Podemos.
A plan to avoid major incidents
This government plan was designed to reinforce the supervision and resilience of the Spanish electrical system. It included increased voltage control, mechanisms to dampen oscillations on the grid, as well as the modernization of storage and flexibility systems. The measures also included the relaxation of deadlines for the installation of new wind and solar projects, as well as incentives to develop storage on production sites, primarily through the installation of batteries.
The objectives of the decree-law focused on preventing the chain reactions that caused the April 28 outage, which had also affected Portugal. According to a government report published in June, the incident was caused by uncontrolled surges and misjudgments by the grid manager and some private operators.
A fragmented majority and sectoral pressures
The rejection of the bill highlights the difficulty for the executive to pass structural measures without an absolute majority. Significant pressure had been exerted by major energy companies to support the plan, but the final decision of the opposition parties prevailed. The Popular Party, the largest opposition group, emphasized its disapproval of the current energy policy and the presented plan, calling it an insufficient measure to ensure the grid’s stability.
The debates surrounding the decree-law reflect a deep divide within Spain’s political landscape regarding the management of critical infrastructure. The lack of consensus undermines the swift implementation of technical solutions intended to prevent a recurrence of major incidents on the national electrical grid.
Implications for the energy sector
The rejection of these measures leaves the adoption of a strengthened framework for managing electrical risks in limbo. Operators and industry stakeholders are closely monitoring developments, awaiting a new bill that could garner sufficient support to ensure supply security. The reliability of the Spanish grid thus remains a central concern for economic and industrial interests.
