Teresa Ribera, serving as third vice president and minister for the Ecological Transition, offered reassurance this Thursday. The government will push households and businesses to reduce energy use, but there will be no law mandating a lower thermostat. Instead, the plan hinges on recommendations that encourage responsible energy behavior rather than coercive measures.
In an interview on the Hoy por Hoy program aired by Cadena SER, Ribera outlined that consumers will face fees tied to energy-saving practices. The aim is to reward prudent actions and efficiency, while keeping the energy system accessible to everyone.
What implications does this hold for the sector? Officials emphasized methods to make gas consumption more flexible on a voluntary basis. Given the ongoing emergency prompted by the Ukraine situation, Spanish industry should avoid rigid rules that could stifle production or competitiveness.
Ribera also noted that the European Commission rejected the idea of all EU member states committing to a blanket 15% voluntary reduction in gas use through next spring as a precaution against potential disruptions from Russia. The focus remains on preparedness without imposing immediate, uniform cuts across the bloc. (Source: Cadena SER)
The minister underscored the importance of public understanding: there will be a broad call for savings, but household and essential utilities must always have secure supply. For industry, there are key sectors that generate thousands of jobs and cannot be asked to switch fuels abruptly or significantly alter their operations.
This approach, Ribera argued, is financially reasonable for Spain, especially when there is no space for public debate to become a one-sided, opinion-free push for extreme measures. The government seeks to balance energy security with industrial vitality, aiming to avoid an approach that would impose disproportionate burdens on families or on critical manufacturing activities.