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.

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.

Check my guide Potencia Options for Single-Phase and 3-Phase Supply Contracts to see the ‘potencia’ options available to contract. You can also click here for Endesa’s  Guide to Determine Potencia (Power) Required to confirm how much power you need (on a Single-Phase Supply). Bear in mind you may want to use several of these appliances at the same time.

Be warned your electricity supplier may ask for a new Boletín if your existing one is more than 20 years old, or if you require more power than the maximum specified on your existing boletín. A new boletín can only be issued if your electricity supply (meter enclosure, supply cables in & out and main fuse box) is fully compliant with the latest wiring regulations.

If you have a very low ‘potencia contratada’ you can’t complain to your electricity supplier, as this is considered your problem not theirs. Ignorance of the rules and regulations, and ignorance of your responsibilities are not reasons to complain to your supplier!

For more information on the Power Control Switch click this link to the Endesa website, Endesa Distibución – ICP Activation

Since late 2009 I have been informing and warning consumers of the potential problem of having insufficient power contracted. At that time Endesa Distribución introduced fines for consumers who they understood did not have the ICP installed. Unfortunately Endesa only notified consumers where they had no record of an ICP being installed and sealed by their own engineers. Consumers who had their ICPs removed or bypassed were not issued fines and were able to continue drawing more power than that contracted, until now!

 

For the complete history of my previous posts relating to ICPs and Smart meters please click on the links below:

Feb 2010 – Energy Rating of Electricity Contracts

May 2010 – Letter from Endesa re: ICP

Aug 2010 – Warning to 3-Phase Consumers

Sept 2010 – ICP Tripping Problems

Oct 2011 – Smart Meters (introduction)

Feb 2014 – Smart Meters (update)

Feb 2016 – Renewed Warning to 3-Phase Consumers

 

If you need assistance changing your ‘potencia contratada’ please contact me, details below or on my Home page. Please be aware that Endesa, or other electricity provider, may require a new ‘boletín’ in order to increase your potencia. If required I can audit your electrical installation, perform load tests, provide a quote for an upgrade and advise you on the most suitable ‘potencia’ in Kilowatts and recommend a suitable tariff.

I work with Endesa subcontractors in my ‘catchment’ area, should any major works or ‘proyecto’ be required to upgrade the network infrastructure to provide a new supply connection point.

Contact me via email (address at top of page) or telephone +(34) 659 862 691.

23 April 2023