With a Spanish property you need water, electricity and internet arranged. Usually this means transferring existing contracts, sometimes it means new connections. With preparation it is straightforward.
Water #
Supplied by local or regional companies. You put the contract in your name, link a bank account for payment, and provide details including your NIE and address.
On an existing property this is an administrative exercise rather than an engineering one.
Electricity #
Supplied by the large energy companies. Three things to pay attention to: which supplier you choose, the contracted power of the connection, and the contract type and tariffs.
That middle one deserves attention because it is unfamiliar to British owners. In Spain you contract a specific power level (potencia), measured in kilowatts, and you pay a standing charge based on it regardless of what you use.
Set it too high and you pay for capacity you never draw. Set it too low and the supply trips when the air conditioning and the oven run together. Most properties come with whatever the previous owner chose, which is not necessarily right for you.
Reviewing the contracted power is one of the easiest ways to reduce a Spanish electricity bill.
Internet and television #
Available in most areas. Urban areas generally have fibre, rural areas ADSL or mobile broadband, and packages combining internet, television and phone are common.
Quality and speed vary noticeably by location, and it is worth checking before you buy if you intend to work from the property.
The steps #
Gather your NIE and bank details, have your purchase or rental contract to hand, contact the supplier and confirm the start of the contract. New connections may need an installation appointment.
Practical points #
Check there are no outstanding debts on existing contracts before you take them over, because they can transfer with the supply. Choose an appropriate electricity power level. Compare suppliers and tariffs. And watch the contract term and conditions, since Spanish utility contracts sometimes carry longer commitments than UK ones.
In short #
Utilities are administrative rather than difficult. The one decision worth thinking about is the contracted electricity power, because it sets a fixed cost you pay every month whether you are there or not.
Last reviewed 2026-08-24
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