Electricity demand fell 3.7% during first week of energy-saving decree

Electricity demand dropped by 3.7% across Spain during the first week of the new energy-saving decree coming into force. 

The new decree approved by the Spanish government sees limits set on the use of air conditioning in public buildings and spaces such as shops, bars, and restaurants, as well as the obligation to turn lights off in shop windows and unoccupied buildings after 10pm. 

The result, in the first week after its introduction, has seen the use of electricity drop by 3.7% between August 8-14, compared to August 1-7, according to Spain’s minister for energy transition, Teresa Ribera, in a press conference from Menorca. 

The Socialist minister celebrated that this drop in use of energy was seen despite most of the country being in the middle of a heatwave. For this, she thanked households and businesses for their "civic commitment" and understanding of the context of the new measures.

According to Ribera, this is provisional data that compares the energy demand of the first two weeks of August and the effect of the measures that came into force seven days ago. 

The decree sees temperature controls applied to public administration buildings, shops, supermarkets, cultural spaces such as cinemas and theaters, and also in transport stations. Here, the lowest temperature that can be set during the summer will be 27°C.

However, the regulation will not be applied to hospitals, educational centers, hairdressers, or hotel rooms. No temperature limit is introduced in private homes.

Some workplaces where workers are forced to do a lot of movements, such as bars and restaurants, can lower the thermostat to 25°C.

Ribera also spoke about the first two months of application of the cap on gas prices in Spain and Portugal, saying it is an "effective mechanism." She claims that domestic and industrial consumers have saved €1.383 million – about €22,000 per day – thanks to the measure.