The repeal of Royal Decree 9/2024 by the Spanish Congress has caused alarm in the industrial sector, as it not only included a tax on energy companies but also an 80% discount on grid fees for electro-intensive consumers.

“The immediate impact on electro-intensive consumers is clear: between €7 and €10 more on energy grid fees, depending on specific consumption,” explains Carlos Martín Graña, Operations Manager at ENERJOIN.

In an interview with Strategic Energy Europe, Graña states that this change is a significant blow to companies, especially in a context already marked by high energy prices in Europe.

However, this situation could be reversed with a measure to restore the article, as announced by the Popular Party regarding pensions.

According to Graña, “The key is for political dialogue to resume to prevent this regulatory void from having a prolonged impact, as all parties agree on supporting industrialisation and decarbonisation.”

Royal Decree 9/2024, approved on December 24, 2024, was part of a package of exceptional measures designed to address the economic consequences of the war in Ukraine.

Among these provisions, the discount on grid fees and the extension of the levy on energy companies were notable, with the latter being the subject of significant controversy and key to its rejection by parliament.

This levy, set at 1.2% of the turnover of major energy companies, was one of the main points of conflict in the Congress. Since its implementation in 2022, it had raised €2.808 billion, according to data from the Ministry of Finance, and was considered essential to fund social programmes.

Its continuation met with strong opposition: the PP, Vox, Junts, and the PNV rejected the extension, arguing that the levy negatively affected the competitiveness of the energy sector and its investments.

The Future of the Levy: A Battle That’s Not Over

Despite the parliamentary rejection, Martín Graña believes that “the fight over the tax on electricity companies does not end with this repeal” and will remain a central issue in future political negotiations, as it is seen as a crucial tool to balance public finances and address the energy transition.