Electrical installations suitable for integration into the distribution network

Information, form and scope

Consultation procedure for the identification of electrical installations suitable for integration into the distribution network, in accordance with the provisions of Article 12 of Royal Decree 640/2026 of 29 July, regulating investment plans for electricity transmission and distribution networks.

 

Background

 

Existing installations that, by virtue of their characteristics, can be integrated into the electricity distribution network are governed by the framework set out in Law 24/2013 of 26 December on the Electricity Sector. In particular, Article 38.2 of that Act defines distribution installations as lines, substations, transformers, and other electrical components operating at a voltage of less than 220 kV — except those integrated into the transmission network — as well as communications, protection, control, and auxiliary service assets, land, buildings, and other ancillary elements necessary for the proper operation of the network. This framework is supplemented by Articles 39 and 53 of the same Act, which subject the transmission, commissioning, modification, or operation of distribution facilities to the relevant system of administrative authorisations.

Sector-specific regulations provide for the possibility of utilising existing facilities as an alternative to the construction of new infrastructure, provided that this is efficient and beneficial to the electricity system. In this regard, Article 12 of Royal Decree 640/2026 of 29 July, regulating investment plans for transmission and distribution networks (hereinafter, the Royal Decree), provides that existing facilities may be incorporated into the distribution network where they meet the requirements to form part of that network, their incorporation brings an economic benefit to the electricity system, and they are in operation.

Generally speaking, and without claiming to be exhaustive, the procedure requires the distribution company to submit the relevant application to the competent authority (either the Directorate-General for Energy Policy and Mines or the competent energy authority of the relevant Autonomous Community or City), accompanied, amongst other documentation, by the agreement signed between the parties to initiate the transfer of ownership, the administrative authorisations for the installation, an audit of the investment costs incurred, the age of the installation since its operating licence was granted, any adaptation costs that may be necessary, and a cost-benefit analysis assessing the costs avoided for the system.

The application must be approved by a resolution of the Directorate-General for Energy Policy and Mines or, as the case may be, the competent energy authority of the relevant Autonomous Community or City, following a report from the National Commission for Markets and Competition assessing the economic benefit to the electricity system of incorporating an existing facility into the distribution network.

Finally, as provided for in Article 12 of the Royal Decree, the distribution company and the company that was originally the owner of the facilities shall have a period of six months to complete the transfer of ownership of the facilities and, where necessary, to adapt the existing access and connection permits to the new circumstances of the distribution network. 

Therefore, pursuant to the aforementioned regulatory provisions, electricity distribution companies may proceed to connect these installations to their network, provided that the applicable technical, financial, and administrative requirements are met, and subject to obtaining the relevant administrative authorisations.

In order to assist owners interested in potentially transferring their installations to the distribution network, details of the procedure have been set out below so that any interested party may contact e-distribución Redes Digitales, S.L.U. (hereinafter “e-distribución”) via the designated contact channel. 

Scope of the consultation

 

Participation in this consultation is for information purposes only and is in no way binding on participants. It does not constitute the start of an acquisition process, nor does it confer any rights on the owner of the facility or impose any obligations on e-distribución.

 

Phases

 

In order to organise the process, the following stages have been set out for the valuation of the assets to be transferred:

 

Power lines

Substations / Primary voltage

 

Geographical area

Voltage

Geographical area

Voltage

Phase 1

Andalusia, Badajoz, Aragon, Soria, Catalonia

>=110 kV

Andalusia, Badajoz, Aragon, Soria, Catalonia, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands

>=110 kV

Phase 2

Andalusia, Badajoz, Aragon, Soria, Catalonia

>=45

Andalusia, Badajoz, Aragon, Soria, Catalonia, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands

>=45

 

Installations eligible for transfer

 

This consultation is aimed at the owners of facilities that meet the requirements to form part of the electricity distribution network in accordance with the provisions of Article 3.1 of the Royal Decree.

 

Minimum validation criteria for the acquisition transaction

 

100 per cent ownership of the assets shall be transferred; to this end, there must be sufficient legal title to ensure that e-distribución becomes, where applicable, the owner of the assets with full guarantees and without any legal risk or liability.

The land associated with the assets being transferred must have the relevant authorisation for its occupation and use, whether in the form of an administrative concession or an easement, duly established and in accordance with the provisions of Law 24/2013 of 26 December on the Electricity Sector and its implementing regulations. Furthermore, in the case of substations, where these are situated on privately owned land, full ownership of such land must be transferred together with the assets.

Where connections to the transmission grid exist, the transfer of assets shall be subject to the regularisation of access to and connection with the transmission grid and to any amendments to the transmission grid plan that may be necessary. 

 

Valuation methodology

 

In accordance with the provisions of Article 12 of the aforementioned Royal Decree, the incorporation of assets into the distribution network must represent a benefit to the system; to this end, the net book value of the assets to be transferred, compliance with specific e-distribution standards, existing legal liabilities and any additional measures necessary for their integration into the distribution network shall be assessed, whilst also taking into account the technical loss differential.

Form for the submission of proposals by owners of electrical installations

 

In accordance with the provisions of the aforementioned Royal Decree regarding the connection of existing electrical installations to the distribution network, a form will be made available to the owners of electrical installations so that they may submit proposals for connection, which will be assessed by e-distribución.

In addition, the email address activos_dx@enel.com has been set up for enquiries regarding this procedure.

In order to assist applicants in preparing the required documentation, applications will be accepted from 9 September 2026 at 9.00 am, thereby allowing a minimum period of 40 calendar days for the submission of applications to commence, from the publication of the said Royal Decree.

To ensure the efficiency of the process, applicants are requested to check in advance that they meet the requirements set out in the aforementioned Royal Decree.

Information to be provided

Interested parties must provide the necessary information in order to comply with the requirements set out in Article 12 of the Royal Decree. This information must be provided on the form, to which the following documentation must also be attached:

 

SUBSTATION DOCUMENTATION

 

  • Rating plate for Transformer 1 (JPG, JPEG, PNG, etc.)
  • Rating plate for Transformer 2 (JPG, JPEG, PNG, etc.)
  • Rating plate for Transformer 3 (JPG, JPEG, PNG, etc.)
  • Rating plate for Transformer 4 (JPG, JPEG, PNG, etc.)
  • Land agreement with third parties (.pdf)
  • Detailed design and engineering for power, control, protection and communications (*) (.pdf)
  • Municipal licence(s)/authorisation(s) (*) (.pdf)
  • Official licences/authorisations/permits (*) (.pdf)
  • Administrative authorisation for the project (*) (.pdf)
  • Geotechnical and topographical report (.pdf)
  • Rights and permits for occupation, overflight and right of way (*) (.pdf)
  • Municipal licences and works management (*) (.pdf)
  • As-built documentation (*) (.pdf)
  • Authorisation for commissioning of the installation (*) (.pdf)
  • Test certificates (*) (.pdf)
  • Planning documentation for the plot (*) (.pdf)
  • Conditions imposed by official bodies (.pdf)
  • Certificate from the installation company (*) (.pdf)
  • Declaration of conformity (*) (.pdf)
  • Technical Inspection Report (.pdf)
  • Report on the latest regulatory inspection (*) (.pdf)
  • Photos (*) (JPG, JPEG, PNG, etc.)

 

LINE DOCUMENTATION

 

  • KMZ file containing the route (*) (.kmz)
  • Land agreement with third parties (.pdf)
  • Project and detailed engineering (*) (.pdf)
  • Municipal licence(s)/authorisation(s) (.pdf)
  • Official licences/authorisations/permits (*) (.pdf)
  • Administrative authorisation for the project (*) (.pdf)
  • Geotechnical and topographical report (.pdf)
  • Rights and permits for occupation, overflight and right of way (*) (.pdf)
  • Municipal licences and works management (*) (.pdf)
  • As-built documentation (*) (.pdf)
  • Authorisation for commissioning of the installation (*) (.pdf)
  • Test certificates (*) (.pdf)
  • Installation acceptance certificate (*) (.pdf)
  • Conditions imposed by official bodies (.pdf)
  • Certificate from the installation company (*) (.pdf)
  • Technical inspection report (.pdf)
  • Report on the latest regulatory inspection (*) (.pdf)
  • Photographs (*) (JPG, JPEG, PNG, etc.)

(*) Compulsory documents