Smart Meters – Power Control Switch Activation!

All electricity supply companies in Spain should have completed the substitution programme of all old analogue electricity meters for new digital Smart meters (for domestic consumers with less than 15 kilowatts contracted). Government deadline for completion of substitution program was end of 2018.

Smart meters are remotely programmed/controlled by your supplier and have an integrated Power Control Switch (PCS). The PCS will restrict the power available to that which you have contracted.

The power available in your property (check your ‘potencia contratada’ on a recent electricity bill) was previously restricted by the ‘Interruptor de Control de Potencia’ (ICP), a circuit breaker fitted into a dedicated sealed compartment in your fuse box. However in many installations these ICPs were either never fitted or illegally removed/bypassed, therefore allowing the consumer to draw more power than that contracted with their supply company.

If you lose power and all your circuit breakers remain on, check your Smart meter. If the display reads “ICP 00 PULSE” then press the yellow button to rearm the meter and restore power.

ICP_00_PULSE

ADVICE: Take extreme care when opening your meter box to minimise risk of electric shock. Do not touch any exposed live parts, e.g. terminals and fuse holders!!

Alternatively to rearm your meter in case of interruption, follow the advice as stipulated by Edistibución:

  • switch OFF your Main Breaker
  • wait 3-4 seconds
  • switch ON your Main Breaker.

This will reconnect power to your property. Resetting your meter by pressing the yellow button or switching your Main Breaker OFF/ON will not give you any more power than you have contracted.

ADVICE: the last appliance plugged in or switched on may have exceeded the power available and caused the PCS to disconnect your supply. Before attempting to rearm your Smart meter, unplug the last appliance connected or switch off the appliance you were using when you lost power.

If you experience frequent interruptions to your electricity supply due to insufficient power (check the ‘potencia contratada’ on your electricity bill) you may need to speak with your supplier in order to upgrade your potencia.

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