How to arrange utilities in Spain

Connecting utilities in Spain might be different than doing it in your country, so take a look to what you will need.

Before buying your property, please make sure to request the last water and electricity bills to the seller. It is important to make sure that these bills are paid.

Once you have the bills you should transfer the contract into your name and provide the water and electricity company with your bank account details for direct debit.

Changing the contract holder will be much cheaper than making a new contract.

– Electricity

New-build properties or properties with no electricity contract (or if the contract has been cancelled by the owner):

• CIE (Boletín de Enganche, Certificado Instalación de Baja Tensión or Certificado de Instalación Eléctrica) (Connection certificate). In order to get that document, you should hire an electrician. The electrician will prepare the installation and once everything is right, he/she will give you this certificate.
• Licencia de Primera Ocupación (The First Occupation License) or Certificado de Habitabilidad (Certificate of Habitability). For these certificates please ask the Town Council. Usually you should hire a technical architect (arquitecto técnico) to write down the report. Once you have paid the tax and presented the architect report, the Town Council will give you this certificate.
• NIE Number
• Bank account number for direct debit
• Address of the property

For resale properties:

• For resale properties, you will need to request the Licencia de Segunda Ocupación (The Second Occupation License). The process is the same as getting the Certificate of Habitability, please ask the Town Council. *Not every electric company asks for this document.
• If the property is older than 20 years and you need to reconnect electricity, you will also have to request the Connection Certificate mentioned above.
• A copy of the last electricity bill including the contract details
• NIE Number or Passport
• Bank account number for direct debit
• If you are renting the property, you will need a copy of the rental contract

The electric company will send the contract to your property and you will have to sign it and send it back to them.

Every two months you will receive the bill in your mail box. You can also request the electric company to send the bills to your email address.

– Water

Water is usually managed by local companies. You should find out about the water company in your town and go to their office to change the water contract.

Before you go there, please write down the numbers in your water meter and bring the paper with you.

You will need to bring the following documents:

• Licencia de Primera Ocupación (The First Occupation License) or Certificado de Habitabilidad (Certificate of Habitability). For these certificates please ask the Town Council. Usually you should hire a technical architect (arquitecto técnico) to write down the report. Once you have paid the tax and presented the architect report, the Town Council will give you this certificate.
• NIE Number
• Bank account number for direct debit
• Address of the property

For resale properties:

• For resale properties, you will need to request the Licencia de Segunda Ocupación (The Second Occupation License). The process is the same as getting the Certificate of Habitability, please ask the Town Council. Normally every water company requires this document before changing the contract to your name. Some of them will give you some time to get this certificate and will change the contract to your name in the meantime.
• A copy of the last electricity bill including the contract details
• NIE Number or Passport
• Bank account number for direct debit
• If you are renting the property, you will need a copy of the rental contract