General rules
The grid development planning process is a participatory process conducted by Spain’s General State Administration, its autonomous communities, CNMC, Red Eléctrica (TSO), and all of the sector actors covering mainland and non-peninsular territories, regulated by Law 24/2013.
This is a consultative process in which the TSO and DSOs present proposals for the development of the transport network and provide the information required in their territory. Subsequently, the TSO compiles all information received and, together with the criteria set by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO), carries out the pertinent technical studies and prepares the initial overall development proposal that would be approved at a higher level.
Once the Plan is approved, it becomes mandatory, and the TSO/DSOs are responsible for undertaking the works for new lines, substations, and transformers, among other things. When the connection requires new installations, the investment costs will be borne by the promoter of the connection and by the future users as well.
Procedure
The TSO (Red Eléctrica de España) together with MITECO and the Autonomous Communities (and the participation of DSOs) shall prepare proposals for grid development to account for forecasts associated with the installations of new elements such as lines, substations, transformers, among others (articles 8 to 16, RD 1955/2000). When the connection requires, for example, a new substation of the transmission or distribution network or the possible reinforcement of the existing or planned line, the necessary investment will be borne by the promoter or promoters of the connection. If the new installations developed are used by another consumer or generator, the new user shall also contribute to the investments made by the first user, for the proportional use of the installations´ capacity. The rest of the reinforcements associated with both grid development and any necessary switchgear replacement shall be included in the planning process (article 32, RD 1955/2000).
Tasks of the DSO/TSO
The planning process for grid development, regulated in Law 24/2013, ’s a participatory process conducted by Spain’s General State Administration, its autonomous communities, CNMC, Red Eléctrica (TSO) and all of the sector actors covering mainland and non-peninsular territories. This is a consultative process, where DSO/TSO present proposals for the development of the transport network and provide the information required in their territory.
The TSO (Red Eléctrica) compile all info received and, together with the criteria set by the responsible (MITECO), carries out the technical the pertinent technical studies and prepares the initial development proposal for the Ministry of Transition and Demographic Challenge. Once the Plan is approved, it becomes mandatory, i.e, the facilities specified in it need to be built. Afterwards, the TSO/DSOs are responsible for undertaking the works for new lines, substations, transformers, among others. When the connection requires new installations, the investment costs will be borne by the promoter of the connection and by the future users, too.
(Complement also with question 16 for further details).
Obligations and rights of plant operators
They can participate, together with other stakeholders, in the consultative process to develop the national grid development plan. They present proposals for the development of the network to be studied and must provide all information required by MITECO (and delegates).
Obligations and rights of customers?
They can also participate in the process by submitting allegations during the consultation period and the public Strategic Environmental Assessment information period following the submission of the planning.
Role of the NRA
Consulting services. At the beginning of the MITECO process, the NRA prepares a report with recommendations for economic-financial sustainability criteria and, at the end of the process, submits to the Ministry an assessment of compliance with these criteria in the proposal for the planning of the transport network.