New energy saving plan in Spain: what measures does it include and how does it affect Spaniards?

Spain approved a decree to make electricity cheaper 1:34

(CNN Spanish) -- 

This Wednesday, August 10, a series of measures of the new energy saving plan of the Spanish Government will come into force, which aims to reduce dependence on natural gas in the face of threats from Russia to cut off supply to Europe and make facing the economic and social consequences of the war in Ukraine.

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The royal decree-law published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) is part of the agreements endorsed by the European Commission in which Spain is responsible for saving up to 7% on its energy consumption between August 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023.

But what are the measures and how do they affect the Spanish?

energy saving measures

The measures considered in this energy saving plan include the following:

• Temperature regulation: buildings for public use must keep the air conditioning at 27 ºC in summer and the heating at 19 ºC in winter.

• Turning off shop windows and lighting: after 10:00 p.m., the shop windows and lighting of public buildings that are unoccupied after that time must be turned off.

  Public lighting will remain on.

More than 1,700 people die from the heat wave in Spain and Portugal 0:46

How will the energy saving plan affect Spaniards?

Initially, these measures will be mandatory, according to the BOE, in all buildings and premises for administrative use (public administrations), in commercial establishments (department stores, supermarkets, shopping centers) and in cultural spaces such as cinemas or congress centers.

The same for passenger transport stations and airports.

The measure is extended only as a recommendation to Spanish households.

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Meanwhile, the plan also includes discounts for users who use trains as a means of transportation, including:

• Cercanías y Media Distancia: right to unlimited free trips between any origin and destination from September 1 to December 31, 2022.

• Avant: a 50% discount on all Avant multi-trip tickets until December 31, 2022 (Plus 10 Card Season Ticket).

• High speed (AVE): 50% discounts that can be used until January 31, 2023 on 13 short routes.

The measure that has caused the most noise among Spaniards has been that of temperature regulation in public and commercial buildings, considering the heat wave that is going through Spain —in July temperatures reached 45º C in several cities in the country— and the other European countries this summer.

According to local media, the Government assured that it can be flexible to "guarantee work safety conditions or whenever it is justified by thermal conditions."

energy saving