From 1 July onwards the Last Resort Tariff will be available only to gas customers with consumption of less than 50,000 kWh/year. The Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade published this ruling along with the new last resort tariff prices.

The Spanish gas system is among the most diversified in Europe, receiving natural gas from 10 different markets while also having a dual input system (liquefied natural gas and gas pipelines) offering increased system security.

According to the study published by the International Energy Agency "International Outlook 09". Access to the study

Access to the study

Euro MPs have demanded that all properties built from 2019 onwards should generate the same quantity of energy as they consume, by means of solar panels, heat pumps and other methods tied to renewable energies.

The European Chamber of Deputies has passed a legislative package to supplement the deregulation of the gas and electricity markets.

Q1 2009 sees increase in domestic/commercial natural gas demand.

According to figures from Eurogas, natural gas consumption in the countries of the EU 27 rose by 1.9% compared with 2007. The number of clients also rose (by 0.9%), to a figure of more than 112 million.

The association has also informed the Spanish Ministry of the creation of a Working Group dealing with security of supply, with the aim of drawing up a positioning document to serve as the basis for Spain's forthcoming Presidency of the EU.

The increase in demand from combined cycle power plants was the decisive factor in the rise in gas sales in 2008, with levels 31.5% up on the figure for 2007.

In mid-December the European Parliament approved the package to assist the EU in achieving its aims by 2020.