Savings and Energy Efficiency Plan
Introduction
The Royal Decree-Law (14/2022) on energy saving and efficiency measures is a decree-law promulgated by the Spanish government on August 1, 2022 in the context of the war in Ukraine, in response to the commitments acquired by Spain in response to the recommendation of the European Union for energy savings, especially gas savings, of July 26, 2022. Its literal title is:.
The countries of the European Union (EU), on July 26, 2022, approved the recommendation to countries to reduce gas consumption by 15%, with the exception of several countries (including Spain) that should do so by 7%; The Council reserves the power to activate an “alert” making the recommendation mandatory in the event that circumstances warrant it. This reduction in gas consumption should lead to savings from August 1 to prevent possible gas outages in the winter.[1].
Context
The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine has pitted the EU against Russia. In this context, gas supplies to the EU from Russia, through gas pipelines, were reduced due to technical problems that continued over time. Faced with the possibility that there was a retaliatory component in this reduction and that these could lead to a cut-off of supply, the EU mobilized in July "in an effort to increase the security of the EU's energy supply."[1].
On July 20, 2022, the EU proposed "a Gas Demand Reduction Plan to prepare the EU for supply cuts." In it, among other actions, the reduction of gas consumption of 15% in each of the Member States was contemplated, from August 1 to March 2023. A voluntary reduction that could become mandatory through a "Union alert" after consulting the Member States if circumstances warranted it. The objective would be to guarantee as much as possible the supply to homes, hospitals and other essential activities, as well as industries decisive for the supply of products and services essential to the economy.[2].
On July 20, the Spanish government, through its Minister of Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera Rodríguez, rejected this 15% reduction for Spain: "We are in solidarity, but we cannot be asked to make a disproportionate sacrifice," emphasizing that Spain's gas storage capacity, at that time, exceeded 80%, while in Europe it would be 50%.[3].
On July 26, the EU countries definitively approved the proposal, including exceptions to the 15% reduction for countries that met certain conditions, such as the level of gas reserves and a limited gas interconnection with other countries, with Spain being able to benefit from these exceptions, reducing the reduction to 7%.[4].