Spain's heat wave pushes electricity demand to five-year high

Spain experienced a severe heat wave in early July, with temperatures reaching 42 °C in the Ebro valley, Extremadura and Andalusia. On 8 July the national grid recorded a demand of 813 GWh, the second‑highest daily total since January 2021 and up nearly 9 % compared with the same date a year earlier. The surge forced Red Eléctrica to activate its active demand‑response service for the first time in a July month, highlighting the strain on the system as renewable generation waned during the peak‑heat hours.

The heat wave also drove a sharp rise in residential electricity use. Data from the grid operator showed an 18 % increase in peak‑hour consumption and a 13 % rise in average daily demand during the hottest days of June. Energy‑provider Contigo Energía warned that many households could curb usage by avoiding common mistakes, such as setting air‑conditioners below 25‑26 °C, neglecting filter maintenance, running high‑consumption appliances during the hottest periods, and ignoring natural ventilation with fans or night‑time window opening. Implementing these habits can reduce bills without sacrificing comfort.