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Madrid Local Reference INFOrmation

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Services - Electricity, Gas, Water & Telephone - in Spain

Moving in? Information on the essential services in Spain and how to get them connected to your home or office in Madrid. Who to call and what paperwork to have handy in order to get your telephone and Internet, electricity, water and gas.

Telephone Service in Spain

The national Spanish telephone company, Telefónica, is responsible for providing the land line telephone service in Spain.

To have a landline telephone installed, connected or reconnected, visit the local Telefónica office. Telefónica has a commercial office (Oficina Comercial) or a client service office (Oficina de Atención al Usuario) in each province.

Telefónica Customer Service Tel: 1004
If calling from abroad Tel: 0034 917 040 319

Note: When contacting Telefónica, have the following information to hand: a Telefónica bill (if possible) or a recent utility (electricity) bill, the Número de Identificación de Extranjero (NIE) or passport number and bank account details.

Telefónica in English is an independent service acting as agents for Telefónica products and services. They provide an online service helping people to get connected.

Telefónica In English

Getting connected

When requesting a line installation the following paperwork is required:

Identification: NIE, passport or residence permit (residencia)
Proof of address: a recent electricity bill, copy of property deed (Escritura), rental contract or Empadronamiento

If a property has a line installed the account can be transferred to an incoming resident's name. Arrange for re-connection and then set up the standing order with your bank to pay both connection and phone bills. Check that all previous bills have been paid to avoid being liable for the outstanding money.

Bills (facturas), which include VAT (IVA) at 16 percent, are generally sent monthly and allow 20 days for payment. Itemised bills (factura detallada) are provided, listing all numbers called with the date and time, duration and the charge.

Bills can be paid by direct debit (domiciliación bancaria), in cash at most banks or in cash at a Telefónica office. Cheques aren't normally accepted. Present your bill with the payment and you will receive a receipt.

Cellular/Mobile telephones

There are several mobile cellular telephone service providers in Spain:

Movistar (in Spanish)
Orange (in Spanish)
Vodafone
Ono (in Spanish)
Tele 2 (in Spanish)

Contracts: Connection, services offered and monthly service charges vary depending on the provider and it is recommended to compare the prices and services offered.

Pay as you go: The pre-paid card (tarjeta prepago) provides a number and a certain amount of call-time ("credit"). The credit must be used within the expiry period, or the number may be reissued by the service provider.

Cards can be bought at a number of places: tobacconists (estancos), newsagents, supermarkets, petrol stations and from telephone card machines.

See AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Getting a Telephone & Internet Connection in Spain

Electricity Service in Spain

It is necessary to have a contract with the local electricity company in order to receive electricity. In general, the information needed to get power connected is the following:

First-time connection for a new-build house:

Connection certificate (Boletin de Enganche or Certificado Instalación de Baja Tensión). This must be supplied by the electrician responsible for the initial installation of wiring in the property and should be stamped
The First Occupation Licence (Licencia de Primera Ocupación) or Certificate of Habitability (Certificado de Habitabilidad) available from a Town Hall (Ayuntamiento)

For all electrical connections:

A copy of the last electricity bill to the property
Identification (passport or NIE number)
If renting, details of the rental contract or details from the property title deeds
Bank account details in order to set up payment of the bi-monthly bills on Standing Order

Once the contract is set up, bills will be received by post or can be viewed on the supplier's website, showing the total amount that will be debited from the bank account.

To cancel the contract it is necessary to write a letter to the supplying company asking them to stop the service. Attach a copy of the passport identity page or NIE number.

The electricity supply in most of Spain is 220 volts AC with a frequency of 50 hertz (cycles).

Electricity companies

Endesa
Tel: 902 525 852
Iberdrola
Tel: 901 202 020
Unión Eléctrica Fenosa
Tel: 901 380 220

Water Supply in Spain

The seller of the house or the landlord must supply the new resident with the most recent water bills paid to the utility company. (The Town Hall provides information on which water company supplies a property.)

The following documents are necessary to obtain water:

Photocopy of the property title deed (Escritura) or rental contract of the property in the applicants name
Photocopy of the passport or NIE number
Official water installation certificate (Boletin del agua) provided by a certified plumber (in the case of a new property)
Payment of the contract fee
Bank account details in order to set up payment of bills on Standing Order.

There is usually a quarterly charge for minimum consumption, even if no water is used during the billing period.

Gas

When moving into a property with mains gas (currently only in the major cities), contact the local gas company to have the gas switched on, the meter read and to sign a supply contract. A bill will be sent bi-monthly (every two months), which will include VAT (IVA) at 16 percent. Gas can be paid by direct debit (domiciliación bancaria). Gas Natural is the main supplier for all regions of Spain.

If there is no mains gas, butane bottled gas (bombonas) can be delivered or may be available from local petrol stations, supermarkets and other suppliers, depending on the area.

A contract with a supplier is needed initially in order to receive bottled gas. Before this contract is approved, the supplier will require a safety inspection where it will check the property where the gas appliance is to be used.

The property owner will also need to provide the following paperwork:

Photocopy and original of passport or NIE
Photocopy of another utility bills for the same address
Certificate provided by technician for gas inspection.

A refundable deposit is payable on the gas bottle. Appliances must be serviced every five years (servicing can be arranged through the bottled-gas supplier or an authorised distributor). The price of gas fluctuates from time to time, but is fixed at the same rate at all suppliers.