In Spain, in accordance with the European Commission’s request to reduce energy use by 7 percent, the so-called “Impact Plan for Energy Savings and Management” was introduced. This plan generated a strong controversy between its author – the central government – and the local authorities, who contest the adequacy of the planned measures. Most likely, the future fate of the planned, according to observers, will be decided in court.

In the meantime, the European Commission’s recommendation will not only be fulfilled in Spain, but also quite fulfilled, experts say. And it’s not about controversial measures, but about reducing energy consumption in production – because of the recession – and in everyday life – because of high energy prices.

What energy saving measures are provided

The energy saving plan applies to administrative buildings, railway stations, airports, bars, restaurants, hotels, commercial, cultural and entertainment establishments. As Deputy Prime Minister Teresa Ribera explained at a press conference in Madrid, the measures calculated until November 2023 “will allow us to fulfill Spain’s obligations to its EU partners to overcome the energy problems that have arisen as a result of the conflict in Ukraine.” . And this despite the fact that Spain itself is not dependent on Russian energy sources.

According to the government’s decision, in summer, in all listed companies and institutions, the air cannot be cooled below 27 degrees, in hotels – below 25. Well, in winter the temperature should not exceed 19 degrees. Commercial and public catering establishments are required to keep the entrance doors and windows closed when the air conditioning or heating is on, and to turn off the windows and illuminated advertising at 22:00. Everyone is instructed to use only energy-saving equipment. Night lighting of architectural monuments is prohibited in cities. For failure to comply with all these requirements – fine from 60 thousand euros to 100 million.

Regions protest against austerity measures

Local authorities are against the new measures. The controversy echoed in the press. The regions, first of all, pay attention to the fact that the plan violates the law, since the use of energy, in particular, in commercial establishments, in Spain is not the responsibility of the plant, but of the local authorities. They reproach the government for the fact that the decision on where and how to save “was taken in a hurry, without due discussion with the interested parties”.

One of the nuclear power plants in Spain

Thus, the head of the Madrid region, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, who has already prepared a lawsuit, believes that the government’s plan will have a negative impact on the lives of Spaniards and especially on foreign tourism, the main branch of the Spanish economy. For example, how can you turn off the lights at 22:00, if at that time commercial companies are still operating and the Spanish nightlife, which attracts so many foreigners, is just getting started? Diaz Ayuso raised this issue in one of his meetings with journalists. Her process was supported by the parliamentary opposition.

How does it affect business

According to public opinion polls carried out these days, businessmen, as well as politicians and the population in general, do not question the need to save and thus show solidarity with European partners. However, many people have doubts about the government’s plan. The representative of the ATA-Association of Independent Workers-David Garcia Aguilar, who works in the hotel industry, said in an interview with DW that he did not know how, for example, to comply with the temperature regime required in hotels. After all, each room has its own air conditioning regulator, allowing guests to adjust the temperature at their discretion.

One of the saving measures is that in the summer in companies and institutions the air cannot be cooled below 27 degrees, in hotels – below 25

The members of the Association do not know how to combine the order on the need to keep windows and doors closed with the current anti-virus law, which requires the constant airing of commercial establishments and public restaurants. “Who would go to bars and restaurants in the summer when it is 27 degrees”, complained Garcia Aguilar, noting that these establishments serve Spaniards to meet with friends, and they usually spend many hours in them.

In the meantime, no matter how the dispute over the austerity plan ends, Spain can assure the EU that its recommendation will be implemented. Javier Benito Gonzalez, an economics professor at the University of Madrid, told DW about this. He explained that there is an economic crisis in the country. Companies are failing, including energy-intensive ones like Alcoa’s aluminum smelter. Car production has declined by 20 percent this year. According to Benito Gonzalez, the recession has already started or will come in the fall. Well, a decrease in production means a reduction in energy consumption.

Spaniards fear that energy-saving measures will affect the flow of tourists

At the same time, the professor continued, due to the 5 to 8-fold increase in energy prices last year, Spaniards began to heat and cool their homes less, using fewer appliances. Thus, since the beginning of the year, for the reasons mentioned above, energy consumption in the country has been decreasing by an average of 3.2% per month.

As for the government’s measures, they, according to Benito Gonzalez, “remain unnoticed by the Spaniards” until now. In fact, even in Madrid, these measures, despite the threat of fines, are far from being implemented in all the places designated by the savings plan. As the DW correspondent was convinced, only state and municipal institutions, railway stations, the airport and a few large commercial enterprises implemented the plan. The others seem to be waiting to see how the controversy surrounding him ends.