Pay Your Househhold Utility Bills in Spain

You have bought a house in Spain and want to get electricity, water and phone services. How do you contract them?

When you buy a dwelling, it is not enough to get a clean escritura (title deed) to your property. You must also notify some places that you are the new owner, and contract certain services. And once the services are contracted, you must know how to pay for them.

Let us say you have been to the notary, paid the full purchasing sum and got a "copia simple" (a photocopy with the stamp of the notary on) of the escritura signed. You have given the notary your NIE-number (foreigners identification number - same as fiscal number) and told him where to notify you when the "primera copia" comes back from the property register with stamps, signature and registration number.

You will now have togo to the town hall or provincial tax collection agency and register yourself as owner of the property for local property taxes (IBI - Impuesto de Bienes Inmuebles). If you buy a new property in a complex, it can be that the promotor does it, ask him on beforehand.

Bring with you identification document, NIE-number and copy of escritura. If you have bought a second-hand property, take also with you the receipt for last years payment by the previous owner.

If you have bought into a community of owners, you must also notify the administrator or president that you are the new owner of dwelling so and so. Give them a copy of your escritura, make sure that there are no debts to the community, and tell them what address to notify you on for any meetings or information.

Water

In certain developments, there are no individual water meters, and you will get your share of the total water bill from the administrator of the community of owners. But in most cases you have an individual water meter (find where it is situated and make sure to get a key if it is locked in), and then you must also register with the water company.

The best system of payment, especially for non-residents, is by a standing order to your bank. You notify the water company to send any bills to the bank to be charged against your account. Then you give your bank a copy of your water contract and fill in a form authorising them to pay the bills.

Electricity

So far, there is only one electricity company in each area of Spain. You will need to go top their Offices with a copy of title deed, your NIE-number, identification documents and the receipt for payment of last bill by previous owner (unless the promotor/sales agent arranges also this service contract for you). Certain electricity company will ask you to phone in changes in an existing contract. Consider how much power you need and adjust the contract accordingly. For a normal vacation dwelling, 3,3 kW will be sufficient.

Do Not Continue The Previous Owner's Contract

Gas or Butano

In almost all tourist areas the companies delivering the bottles with gas butano for heating, cooking or hot-water, is Repsol Butano and Cepsa. They have offices in all municipalities of a certain size, and you will find them in the phone book. Be careful with gas installations, have the company come and inspect the installations before a new contract is done in your name.

You pay for the bottles you need, either by arrangement with the driver of the lorry bringing out the 13 and 25 kilo bottles, or you go the local storage area and pick up a new bottle when you need one. You can also buy bottles on certain gasoline stations.

It is important to check with regular intervals that the rubber tube going from the bottle is in perfect shape (look for expiry date).

Also important is not to admit any 'inspectors' coming knocking on your door, especially after working hours. Always check with the local gas distributor before letting anyone in.

Telephone

Do not take over an existing phone contract and number. It can mean taking over debts. It is very easy to get a new phone, waiting time is down to a few days for a permanent phone, and a mobile phone you get at once.

There are now several phone companies in Spain to choose between. The "Foundation Institute of Foreign Property Owners" is comparing their changing tarifs from time to time. In almost every case, Telefonica has the most expensive tariffs.

The offices of Telefonica are mostly situated in bigger cities, but you can today order a phone installed by phoning the company on 1004. On same line you can make changes in address, order additional services, get information on special tarifs and about payments.

Emergency Numbers & Numbers Of Special Interest

In the beginning of the phone directory you will find under Emergencias some important phone numbers for police, the fire brigade, civil protection, Red Cross, ambulances. Under Otros servicios de interés you find listed the number of the water companies, offices of the electricity company, postal services, Spanish Rails, taxis, airports and assistance on the road.

Mobile Phone Number / Dialling Abroad

Be aware that all Spanish mobile phone number now starts with 6, instead of 9, and that you phone abroad by dialling 0044, instead of previously 0744.

Also the phone bill should be charged to your bank account, especially if you are away from your Spanish home in periods.

Contracts May Be In A Language You Do Not Understand

You may have to sign quite complicated service contracts in a language you do not understand much of. But the contracts for water companies, electricity suppliers, Repsol Butano, Cepsa and the phone companies have all been scrutinised by Spanish consumer organisations and in most cases approved by the government. It means you can sign them even if you do not understand them, even if you should try to learn their content. The bills, however, you should understand and control.

The Water Bill

The form of the bill may vary with the different companies, but the basic concepts are the following:

The Water Bill
- Name of the water company and their address, phone and fax in the municipality where you live. Any questions or complaints should be directed to this address.
- The municipality.
- The time period for the billing, with previous and last reading of water meter and total consumption.
- Standing service charge.
- The amount to be paid, calculated at tarifs often increasing with consume.
- Meter rental fee.
- VAT of 6%.
- Number and date of bill.
- Your reference number, name and address.

Sewage Treatment

The water bill may also include a Canon to finance the construction of sewage treatment stations in your area.

 

This list has been complied and intended for guidance only. It should not be considered a substitute for individual professional legal advice.

Click here for a list of Notary in Spain