How to Report an Electricity Fault (Power Cut) in Spain

Experiencing a power cut can be stressful, especially if you are not sure who to call or if the problem is just in your home.

This guide walks you through the immediate steps to take, how to check your equipment, and how to reach the correct emergency support line for e-distribución.

⚡️ Quick Summary

✓Check your fuse box first
✓Look at your electricity meter for fault codes
✓Confirm if neighbors are also without power
✓Contact e-distribución for emergencies on 900 85 08 40

1. Safety First

Before checking your equipment, ensure you and your home are safe during the blackout.

Turn off sensitive electronics (computers, TVs) to protect them from power surges when electricity returns.
Keep fridge and freezer doors closed to maintain the temperature.
Use flashlights instead of candles where possible to reduce fire risk.

2. Check your Fuse Box (Cuadro Eléctrico)

Verify if the issue is internal to your home. Locate your consumer unit (usually near the front door) and check if any switches have tripped (fallen down).

If the main switch (ICP) is down, you may have exceeded your contracted power (Potencia).
If an individual circuit breaker is down, there might be a fault with a specific appliance.
If the RCD (Diferencial) is down, there could be a localized short circuit or leakage.

3. Check your Smart Meter (Contador)

If your fuses are all up but you still have no power, check the display on your smart meter. A solid red light usually indicates that the power has been cut by the meter, possibly due to a remote disconnect or exceeding power capacity. If the screen is blank, the issue is likely with the external grid. If your meter has cut power because you exceeded your contracted potencia, this is different from a grid fault. Our Spanish smart meter guide explains how the ICP function works and why the meter may disconnect the supply.

4. Confirm it is an External Fault

Before calling the distributor, confirm the scope of the outage:

Check the street lights or your neighbors' homes.

If the entire building or street is dark, it is definitely a grid issue.

If only your home is affected and the meter looks normal, call an electrician first.

5. Who to Call: e-distribución

In most parts of Spain (especially Andalucía, Catalonia, Aragon, and the Canary Islands), the distributor responsible for the lines is e-distribución.

Emergency Contact

Averías y urgencias (e-distribución)

900 85 08 40📞

Free call

What information to have ready

Your CUPS number (found on your bill)
The exact supply address
A contact phone number

If you don't know your distributor

Check your latest electricity bill. The name of the 'Distribuidora' is always listed separately from your 'Comercializadora' (the company that bills you).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Will I be charged for calling the emergency number?

No, the 900 85 08 40 number is a freephone number (gratuito) in Spain.

Q. What if e-distribución is not my distributor?

The numbers for other major distributors are: i-DE (Iberdrola) 900 171 171, UFD (Naturgy) 900 1403 999, and E-Redes (EDP) 900 907 001.

Q. How long do power cuts usually last in Spain?

Most maintenance-related or minor faults are resolved within 2-4 hours. You can check the e-distribución website for a live map of active incidents.

Q. Should I call my supplier (e.g. Octopus, Endesa, Iberdrola)?

No. Your supplier handles billing. The distributor (Distribuidora) handles the physical wires and meter. Calling your supplier will only result in them giving you the distributor's number.

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