Elections in Spain: Which Energy Decisions Remain Pending and Which Are Still in Force

The call for general elections on November 29 opens a period of uncertainty for companies that need to anticipate grid access, permits, and investment conditions. The dissolution of Parliament reduces the scope for completing certain parliamentary procedures, but it does not mean that all energy-related files are cancelled: some continue through the administrative process, while others have already been approved and are in force.

The timetable and the next Government’s decisions will be decisive for several issues that affect the expansion of renewable generation, storage, industrial electrification, and new large electricity consumers.

Grid: a pending investment proposal and measures already in force

One of the main unknowns is the 2025–2030 electricity grid plan. The Government has proposed a review that raises the planned investment in new lines and substations to more than €17 billion. According to news coverage, final approval could be postponed until after the elections. The next administration would have to decide whether to keep the proposal and its priorities or change them. Therefore, that figure describes a proposed investment, not a budget whose implementation is guaranteed on the terms proposed.

At the same time, there are approved decisions that should be distinguished from this pending plan. A royal decree in force since August extended to 2030 the investment caps provided for distribution and transmission grids: €10.2 billion for distribution and €7.7 billion for transmission. An amendment to the Transmission Grid Development Plan, involving €615 million in investment, was also approved. These measures are not automatically repealed by the election call.

The uncertainty may, however, affect future projects and the rules for making more efficient use of existing capacity. A royal decree-law on access and connection includes measures in force to free up capacity and introduce flexible access arrangements, but its subsequent passage as a law is interrupted by the dissolution of Parliament. The next Parliament may decide whether to resume the bill, amend it, or replace it.

Data centers: connection conditions still to be defined

The royal decree to regulate data centers’ access to the grid is another file with no confirmed outcome. The public consultation on the draft concluded in September, but sources describe a proposal that has yet to be resolved. The issues under discussion include the requirements these facilities must meet and how to allocate limited connection capacity amid competition from industrial, renewable, storage, and electric mobility projects.

The delay could prolong uncertainty for companies waiting to learn the definitive rules before deciding on their projects. Some reports cite industry warnings that investment could move to other markets if the regulation proceeds on its current terms. These are forecasts attributed to those sources, not a confirmed consequence of the election call. It has also been reported that the Government may try to approve the regulation before the elections, so its timetable cannot be considered settled.

Capacity market and permits: practical implementation may be delayed

The capacity market is among the measures whose development still requires further decisions. Although one report states that conditions were approved in September, it also notes that steps remain before the mechanism can be launched, such as the operating procedure and the first auction. A potential delay to that auction could affect the timetable for projects awaiting clarity on how capacity availability will be remunerated, including storage projects. There is no indication that this effect has already materialized.

Reforms to the permitting procedures for electricity and gas facilities are also pending. Their purpose is to adapt the processes to a system with more renewable generation, storage, and demand, but their approval could depend on the next administration if they are not completed before the elections. For developers, the outcome matters both for timelines and for the access and connection rules applied to their projects.

Other files and a practical approach for companies

The issues cited include a review of the regulation of electricity generation in non-peninsular territories. The submarine interconnector between Ceuta and the Peninsula adds a need to define the role of local generation, including the combined-cycle power plant. Available sources present that definition as pending; they do not specify what the solution will be.

Companies should distinguish between regulations in force, proposals under consideration, and decisions still to be developed. The first do not disappear because of the early election; the second may change in timing or content, while the third could be left to the next Government. The election call creates uncertainty about when and on what terms these files will advance, but it does not support the conclusion that they will all be cancelled or allow anyone to anticipate what decisions the Government emerging from the polls will take.