Have you received one of these letters from Endesa? They are sent recorded delivery to the contract holder at the normal billing address of the property. If for some reason you DO NOT receive electricity bills but money is deducted monthly from your account, then you may not receive this letter – be warned Endesa Distribución may take action regardless!

click image above to view full letter

In essence the letter is telling you that under a new law passed 1st July 2009, Endesa (and all other ‘free market’ electricity suppliers) are now legally obliged to ensure the ‘Interruptor de Control de Potencia’ (ICP) is installed for all consumers.

The letter identifies 2 of the 3 possible options:

1 – rent the ICP from Endesa, from 6 cents a month
2 – ask your ‘shockingly good‘ electrician to install the ICP

Or 3, the unwritten option, is DO NOTHING! Ignore this letter and the follow-up letter that will arrive 2 to 3 months later and do nothing during your 20 day response period. In this event, Endesa will not install an ICP, but will modify your billing account and charge you for the MAXIMUM energy rating possible on your supply, which could be 20KW! The monthly standing charge for a 20KW contract is currently 46,74€ per month plus electricity tax at 4,864% plus IVA at 16%!! Then you pay nearly 15 cents per KWh consumed, plus both taxes, of course!

Read on to see my replies to some very recent and ‘frequently asked questions’:

Q. What is an ICP?

The ICP is a current limiter, just like all the individual circuit breakers in your consumer unit (fuse box). The rating of which is dependent on the ‘potencia contratada’ (energy rating in KWs) of your electricity contract.

Q. Where is the ICP installed?

The ICP is installed in a special compartment in your consumer unit, which is then sealed by Endesa to prevent unauthorised access.  If your consumer unit does not have a compartment clearly marked ‘Interruptor de Control de Potencia’, then call me to arrange installation.  I can also liaise with Endesa on your behalf, if you struggle with techy-spanglish!?!

Q. Do I have to ask Endesa to fit my ICP?

You can choose to rent the ICP from Endesa (0,06€ per month for single-phase or 0,12€ per month for 3-phase), in which case they install it, or ask your ‘shockingly good‘ electrician to install it then arrange for Endesa to inspect it and fit their tamper-proof seal on the ICP compartment.

Q. If the ICP is a current limiter, will I have enough power after it is fitted?

Maybe not! Check the ‘potencia contratada’ (energy rating in KWs) at the top of the letter or on your last electricity bill.  If it is less than 5,75KW then your new ICP may well ‘trip’ OFF on a regular basis depending on the appliances in your home, how and when you use them. The ‘potencia contratada’ must be sufficient for your requirements to avoid regular interruptions to your supply. Check my previous article Energy Rating of Electricity Contracts and my Guide to Determine Energy Rating of Electricity Contracts for more useful info.

Should you need to increase your energy rating be aware that Endesa may request a new Boletín. A boletín certifies your electrics are compliant with current wiring regulations. Endesa will only upgrade existing contracts provided ‘Titular’ (Contract Holder) details are correct and a boletín has been issued since 1990. Changing the ‘Titular’ will necessitate a new contract, where more documentation will be requested, including valid boletín, DNI/NIE and Escritura proving legality and ownership of the property.

If you require assistance dealing with Endesa or need an ICP and/or ICP compartment fitting then I can help! Contact me via email (see home page) or telephone +(34) 659 862 691.

12 May 2010