Do not let the seller, landlord, or outgoing tenant cancel an active electricity supply before you take over. An active supply can usually be changed into your name. A cancelled supply can mean a paid new activation, inspections, certificates, and delays.
- Active supply = cambio de titularidad, usually the clean name-change route.
- Cancelled supply = alta, which can cost money and take time.
- Before completion, get the CUPS, latest bill, supplier and potencia.
Use this guide before you complete a purchase, sign a rental, or agree to “sort the electricity later”.
Keep the supply active if possible. Change the name. Do not cancel first unless someone has checked the consequences.
The mistake: cancelling an active supply
When a seller leaves, a tenant moves out, or a landlord wants to avoid paying bills, someone may suggest cancelling the electricity contract. It sounds tidy. In Spain, it can be the wrong move.
If the electricity supply is still active, you can usually request a cambio de titularidad, which means changing the contract holder. The supply stays connected. The lights stay on. The account moves into your name.
If the supply is cancelled, you are not just changing a name anymore. You may need a new activation, called an alta. That can involve activation fees, distributor steps, technician visits, an electrical certificate, and delays before the home has power again.
Cambio de titularidad: the clean route
A name change is usually the best route when the property already has electricity. You provide your ID, contact details, bank account, the CUPS number, and sometimes the latest bill or proof of right to use the property.
The important part is continuity. The supply remains active while the contract holder changes. You can then review the tariff, potencia, and provider once you are in control.
This is especially important at completion. If you are buying, ask the seller not to cancel the supply before the title transfer. If you are renting, ask the landlord or agent whether the supply will stay active and whether you are expected to put it in your name.
Alta: what happens when the supply is cancelled
An alta is a new activation or reactivation. It may be necessary if the home has no active electricity contract. Sometimes it is unavoidable, especially in long-empty properties or new builds. But you do not want to trigger it by accident.
An alta can take days or longer depending on the distributor, the state of the installation, documents, and appointment availability. Older homes may need an electrical certificate to prove the installation is safe. If something is missing, the process can stall.
The cost is not only the fee. It is the inconvenience: no fridge, no router, no hot water if the boiler is electric, no A/C, no tools for workmen, and sometimes no way to stay comfortably in the home.
What to confirm before completion or move-in
Before you buy or rent, ask for the basics in writing if possible.
- Is the electricity supply active? Do not assume. Ask directly.
- What is the CUPS number? This is the supply-point code and appears on the bill.
- Who is the current supplier? Useful for the name-change request.
- What is the current potencia? Check whether it fits the home.
- Can you see the latest bill? It confirms the supply, address, CUPS, tariff and recent use.
- Will the seller, landlord or tenant keep it active until the change is complete? This is the key practical point.
Take a meter photo on arrival. If there is a dispute later, it helps show the opening reading.
Special note for rentals
Rental electricity setups vary. Sometimes the tenant puts the contract in their own name. Sometimes the landlord keeps it in their name and recharges the tenant. Sometimes utilities are included up to a limit.
The risky situation is an outgoing tenant who cancels the contract because they think that is normal. Ask the landlord or agent to coordinate the handover so the supply stays active. If you are taking over the contract, start the name-change process early.
Get the name change right
If you are moving into a Spanish home, the electricity handover should be part of the moving checklist, not an afterthought. Active supply plus the right documents is usually much easier than repairing a cancelled setup later.
For the broader setup, read our home energy guide for Spain. If you want help changing the electricity contract into your name in English, start your energy setup with Settlewell.
FAQ
What is cambio de titularidad?
It means changing the contract holder for an active supply. The electricity stays connected while the account moves into the new person’s name.
What is alta?
Alta is a new activation or reactivation when there is no active supply contract. It can involve fees, technical steps, certificates and delays.
Should the seller cancel electricity before completion?
Usually no. If the supply is active, it is often better to keep it active and change the name after completion.
What documents do I need to change the name?
Usually ID, contact details, bank account, CUPS, the supply address, and sometimes the latest bill or proof you can use the property.
