Who are the “private operators” to which the government accuses after the blackout

More than 48 hours have passed from the great blackout suffered by Spain, Portugal and southern France. Speculations during this time were swift, even He thought it was a cyber attack. However, the Spanish Electricity (Ree) grid has reported that the preliminary cause It was a “massive disconnection of electricity generation.” Now, beyond what failed technically, the real unknown is who must assume responsibilities.

The appearance. In the press conference of April 29, the President of the Government made it clear that the Executive demands explanations and collaboration both to Red Electric (Redeia) and the “private operators.” According to the countrySánchez has summoned Moncloa to the main actors of the electrical system: the president of Ree, Beatriz Corredor, and representatives of Iberdrola, Endesa, Naturgy, acts energy and EDP.

Redeia or Ree? At the press conference, the president mentioned Redeia, but many people have read in the Ree media, what is the difference? To begin with, Spanish Electricity (REE) is the company that is responsible for transporting electricity in high voltage, that is, to bring energy from the centrals generating to large substations. In other words, it would be like the “electric highway” of the country.

From Three years agothis company is part of the Redeia group, which is the commercial name that the old Red Electrico Corporation adopted to encompass all its subsidiaries. To be easier to understand: Redeia is the business group and Ree is the subsidiary responsible for operating the electric transport network.

Is Ree public? Although many people think that Ree is a public company, in reality the State just control 20% of its actions through the SEPI (State Society of Industrial Participations). The remaining 80% is in private hands, mainly in investment funds.

According to eldiario.esthis is one of the reasons for the discomfort of the government: neither private electric nor ree have offered clear information after the blackout, and Ree has not facilitated the Executive access to technical data on what happened.

“Private operators.” At a press conference, Sánchez repeatedly repeated the term “private operators”, causing a generalized doubt: Who did he mean exactly? As the difference between Ree and Redeia has clarified, it is clear that “Private operators” They are the big private electric companies: Iberdrola, Endesa, Naturgy, EDP and Act Energía.

These companies have a very different role from that of Ree, since they are generated by electricity with their own plants (renewable or not). They also distribute electricity in medium and low voltage, that is, from substations to homes and industries. Here you have to make a small subsection, while Ree manages the high voltage network, these companies are responsible for the final stretch of the electricity trip. Finally, they are responsible for marketing energy through their own associated brands or companies: the light invoice. At this point it should be noted that not all marketers generate electricity, since some such as Holaluz or Podo only buy energy to sell it to the consumer.

Easier to understand. Although Ree operates the “Spanish Electric Highway”, it is the private operators that handle the final stretch and much of the production.

A slight suspicion. This whole situation is suggesting that the Executive has a suspicion that electrical companies have not been transparent enough, and have not actively collaborated during the first hours of the blackout, According to Cadena Ser. In his statements, President Sánchez has launched a technical criticism of nuclear power plants, wondering why they did not contribute to the recovery of the system, although before collapse they were contributing 10% to the electrical demand, According to Ree data.

The president has affirmed that “the nuclear generation was no more resilient than other sources” and that it could even have slowed recovery. As has declared The Nuclear Safety Council (CSN), only two of the seven nuclear reactors were in operation that day; The other five had been stopped by business decision, not being considered competitive against renewables. Although the government has not said it directly, Criticism is evident: were the electricity prepared for an emergency?

They haven’t taken to answer. According to RTVEIberdrola has assured that all its centrals worked properly and that REE indications followed during the blackout. On the other hand, as explained by the confidential, the companies promised to collaborate with the Government, although none has so far offered a complete explanation about what failed.

And now? The Government has announced the creation of an internal investigation commission and has asked the European Commission for an independent audit, According to the newspaper. While trying to clarify what exactly failed, the blackout has not only tested the electrical system, but also the relations between the government, REE and private operators. The political, economic and legal battle as soon as it begins.

Image | Pexels and La Moncloa

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