How to set up an electricity supply and manage your electricity contract

Switching electricity suppliers, changing the contract holder, finding out whether you can set up an electricity supply without an electrical installation certificate, or knowing what you need to activate an electricity supply are all very common procedures. We explain the steps so you can complete them easily.

If you have just bought or rented a home or business premises, you will probably need either to set up the electricity supply or change the contract holder (something highly recommended for both property owners and tenants). And if you change the electricity contract holder, you may also want to switch electricity suppliers. Remember that even if you are renting, you can switch electricity suppliers without any problem. We explain how to set up an electricity supply, how much this procedure costs, and how to change the holder of the electricity supply contract and/or switch electricity suppliers, two procedures that do not involve any cost in themselves.

How do you set up an electricity supply?

Setting up electricity for the first time means requesting a new connection, in other words, asking for a supply point where there is currently no electricity to be activated. This process is carried out by the distribution company at the request of the electricity supplier chosen by the customer (here we explain the differences between an electricity supplier and a distribution company).

Switching electricity suppliers is also managed through this process, although it is a different situation. It simply involves transferring the details of an active electricity supply, which is not interrupted at any point, similar to switching mobile or telephone providers.

Remember that with Holaluz you can set up your electricity supply or switch supplier in 3 minutes. If you prefer, you can also call us on 900 67 07 07 or leave us your phone number and we will call you.Calculate your tariff

What if I want to change the contract holder?

To change the electricity contract holder:

• If you are already a customer, you can provide us with the new contract holder’s contact details through your Customer Area, and we will get in touch with them to complete the process. 
• If you are switching to Holaluz or setting up a new supply with us (hello! 😄), remember that during the sign-up process you will automatically become the new contract holder using the details you have provided. 

What documentation do I need?

To set up an electricity supply, you will need to have the following basic documentation to hand:

• Certificate of occupancy. Although it is not always essential. If the property is newly built, you will need the First Occupancy Licence or First Opening Licence. 
• Electrical Installation (or Low-Voltage Electrical Installation Certificate) issued by an authorized electrician. 
• Photocopy of your Spanish ID card, passport, NIE or self-employed worker certificate. If the new electricity supply point is for a company, you will need a photocopy of the company’s tax identification number (CIF) and must specify the applicant’s position within the company. 
• CUPS.  This is a code used to identify your electricity installation, a bit like its “ID number”. If you do not know it and the home or premises has had electricity at some point, you can send us the full address together with the documentation (the distribution company will request it from us), and we will easily find the CUPS, send it to you and you will be able to complete the activation process. If the property has never had electricity, the quickest option is to contact the electricity distribution company in your area so that they can provide it and you can send them the required documentation. Here you can find the phone numbers of the main distribution companies by area. 

Whatever your situation, make sure you understand all the conditions of the contract offered by the electricity company you choose, both in terms of electricity tariffs and the service provided (what is included and what is not?), as this is very important and can make a real difference. Finally, check whether they offer you a fixed or variable energy price.

How much does it cost to set up an electricity supply?

The electricity supplier should not charge you anything for setting up the supply, but it will bill you for the costs charged by the distribution company:

• Access rights: €19.70 for each kW requested. 
• Extension rights: €17.37 for each kW requested. This amount only has to be paid when the electrical installation has not yet been completed (for example, in newly built homes), or when the property previously had electricity but more than 3 years have passed since the supply was disconnected. 
• Connection rights: €9.04 per connection. 
• Deposit:  An amount equivalent to the theoretical monthly bill corresponding to fifty hours of use at the contracted power level. 

Let’s look at an example. To set up a new electricity supply point with a contracted power of 4.6 kW in a new home (or one where the electricity supply was disconnected more than 3 years ago), the costs would be as follows:

To sign up with Holaluz, you will not have to handle any of the paperwork yourself: you will simply need to have one of your current bills to hand and provide us with a few details. We will take care of everything else!

And remember that even if you are renting, you can choose whichever electricity supplier you prefer, just as you can with your internet contract or phone line.

How long does it take to set up an electricity supply?

You now know how to set up an electricity supply, but did you know that the activation process can take between 5 and 7 working days? This is how long the distribution company usually takes to activate a new electricity supply point after receiving the documentation from the electricity supplier. If 10 days have already passed and you still do not have electricity, call us and we will sort it out.

Can the distribution company reject a request to activate a new supply?

After sending the documentation required to request the activation of a new electricity supply, the distribution company may reject the request for a specific reason and ask for corrections or additional documents afterwards. Don’t worry: at Holaluz we are in direct contact with the distribution companies and always do everything we can to minimise any inconvenience for you.

Are you now clear on what you need to set up an electricity supply, change the contract holder or switch electricity suppliers? Do it now in just a few minutes through our website.
Sign up for your electricity supply and start saving!

If you still have questions and would like to know more:
Call us free on 900 67 07 07