Utility Connection
Electricity
The electricity supply is 220 Volt and 50 cycles with a standard European two or three pin plug. All your other electrical goods should work fine, just change the plugs (preferable) or buy adapters available locally.
You will have to buy your electricity from Endesa, which operates under the name Sevillana Endesa in Andalusia. They can be contacted online at their website: www.endesaonline.com or by calling 902 502 040.
Bills are paid bimonthly; they come in Spanish and can be paid either by direct debit or at the bank. Note that many banks will only allow you to pay non-domiciled bills between 08:30 and 10:30. Your tariff is worked out according to your power rating (potencia), i.e. the amount of electricity that you elect to buy from your supplier in advance. You pay a standing charge in advance and consumption charges in arrears. Note that IVA of 16% and electricity tax (impuesto sobre electricidad) of 4.8% apply.
It is possible to save money by either requesting a night tariff (tarifa nocturna) and running expensive appliances at night on a timer, or by requesting a fixed monthly tariff (cuota fija), in which case any outstanding bill or refund is paid at the end of the year. For more information call 902 509 509.
Gas
Gas Natural has the monopoly on mains gas. Your home mains gas installation must be officially inspected and a safety certificate is required before connection. Mains gas is available in most major cities. 180€ one time registration Tel: 902 250 365 www.gasnatural.com
Most households use gas bottles (bonbonas) supplied by Repsol Butano (www.repsolypf.com). You will need to sign a contract with them, which is only issued after Repsol Butano has conducted a safety inspection.
A further inspection is required of all appliances every five years. Bottles can be delivered, but it is cheaper to buy direct from the depot. As they have a tendency to run out at the least convenient or expected moment, it is recommended that you keep spares! You can find the orange bonbonas at petrol stations or call your local distributor and schedule a home delivery bottle.
Each town has a free delivery service. Call the number listed below, when prompted, punch in your postcode and the automated system will give you the local delivery telephone number Tel: 901 100 100. If you suspect a leak immediately call 901 121 212
Telephone
Telefónica dominates the market in Spain. It is possible to contract a discount provider; nonetheless you will have to rent the line itself from Telefónica. There are very affordable alternatives to Telefónica, for call charges; please refer to Telecommunication Services in the yellow classified section.
www.telefonica.com
Pricing for local calls with telefónica
mon - fri 08:00-18:00 1 cent / min (6 cents connection fee)
mon - fri; weekends & holidays 18:00 - 20:00 under 1 cent / min (6 cents connection fee)
To get connected with a Telefónica landline, simply dial 1004. Telefónica has an English-speaking department to assist with connection, ADSL, bill queries, direct debits and payments etc.
Water
...is a precious resource in Spain! Although the country as a whole has a sufficient rainfall to meet demand, distribution is far from even. This forces local municipalities to both safeguard and supplement their supplies with water purification plants and restrictions in times of drought.
To get connected, contact your local Town hall to find who provides your water. Opening a new contract, requires the presentation of your passport or registry certificate, the deed or nota simple or rental contract and your bank account details. Take original and photocopies.
The supply is metered, so you pay for what you consume. However if any monies are due, you will have to pay previous bills even if they are not yours. If it is a new house you will have to take along the appropriate documentation.
Along the coast, from Torremolinos to Manilva, including the near by villages of Istán, Ojén and Benahavís, the provider is Acosol. Quarterly payments.
Tel: 952 831 274
www.acosol.es/ing/index.htm
Aquagest is the provider for Marbella, Calahonda, San Pedro, Manilva and many urbanisations near Marbella: Guadalmina, Nagüeles, Sierra Blanca and Nueva Andalucía.
Tel: 952 820 112
www.aquagest.es
Astosam supplies water to Torremolinos.
Tel: 952 057 010
www.astosam.es
In Málaga, Churriana and Campanillas water is provided by Emasa.
Tel: 900 777 420
www.emasa.es
Gestaqua covers Fuengirola, Torreblanca, Reserva del Higuerón.
Tel: 952 582 068
www.gestaqua.es
Wells Water
Digging a well is an expensive undertaking. A diviner comes and in Andalusia this may mean an old guy with a forked olive branch who walks around the plot until the stick mysteriously rises ever so slightly indicating a subterranean water supply (and it really really works!)
Dig the well double deep, if they hit water at 20 metres dig down 40, so you will have water in the case of a drought. It is best to do all the digging once, as re-fitting is very costly.
A submerged pump must be fitted in the well and then the water taken to a tank, an above water reserve, "aljibe" or directly to the home.
Refuse
Many councils have installed innovative 'ecological islands' replacing the traditional green rubbish bins. These are silver funnels on the pavement which compact the rubbish and deposit it in underground containers which are emptied daily. Aesthetic and hygienic, they can't be beat!
Bulk Trash
All councils and many urbanisations provide a household goods collection service, which is usually made once a week. The service will generally take anything but it's best to check beforehand.
Enquire at your Town hall which day collections will be made in your area. If you leave furniture in the skips on non designated days, you may be liable to a fine. When buying a fridge or a washing machine, ask to have your old one removed.
Recycling
In the past decade Spain has totally modernised its treatment of waste and recycling has become reasonably easy. In accordance with EU practices by 2007 recycling will be required by law. Recycling bins are colour-coded as follows:
dark blue
Paper (including newspapers and cardboard)
green
Glass (any colour) but no corks or bottle tops
yellow
Plastic (such as water bottles, Margarine containers, yoghurt and egg cartons, cellophane, string bags from fruit), tins (drink and food) and cartons (tetrabrik). Don't forget to wash the containers!
yellow metal
Clothes, shoes and household fabrics. Fold the clean items and put them in plastic bags. Much of this clothing is donated to the needy.
batteries
So far we have located one in Al Campo at la Cañada, please tell us if you find another point.
Home Entertainment
TV in Spain
If you are thinking of taking your TV with you to Spain, TV sets operating on the British system (PAL-1) won't work (nor will French (SECAM) or North American (NTSC). Spain uses the PAL- BG standard.
However, it will work via a satellite system or by connecting the aerial to a Spanish video player, which must be connected by a SCART lead to the TV.
The Costa del Sol has no local English language television channels. Canal Málaga in association with Sur in English newspaper broadcasts an English weekly current events show on Saturdays at 14:00 which repeats on Sundays at 21:00. Tuning on UHF for most areas is 53 - except in Alhaurín de la Torre and Torremolinos (49) and Málaga (57).
Gibraltar television broadcasts can be picked up in some areas west of Marbella. GBC is a mix of rock culture and BBC programming.
Satellite
English satellite TV is widely available on the Costa del Sol: a basic satellite package with BBC and ITV channels (no Sky) plus many European channels starts at around 350€; Sky satellite with BBC and ITV channels costs approximately 550€.
Installation is quick. Use an established company that leaves you a written guarantee. Please refer to the yellow classified section for a full list of local providers.
Before installing a satellite dish, you must check whether you need permission from your landlord or the local authorities. Certain towns and communities have strict regulations about the placement of dishes.
Radio
SPECTRUM FM - (105.5 fm)
Tel: 902 105 551
www.spectrumfm.net
Music (70s, 80s, 90s & Contemporary), News, Talk, Weather, Sport, Travel. Broadcasting 24 hours a day in English across the Costa del Sol, Costa Almería and Costa Blanca. You can hear big radio names, such as Dave Lee Travis and Ed 'Stewpot' Stewart as well as other local presenters. 24 hours of music, sport, news.
CENTRAL FM - (98.6 fm & 103.8 fm)
Tel: 952 566 256
www.centralfm.com
Music (70s, 80s, 90s & Contemporary), News, Talk, Weather, Sport, Travel. Broadcasting to the Costa del Sol, inland areas and Gibraltar, Central FM is a mix of music, chat, humour, interviews, major competitions and international, national and regional news.
COASTLINE RADIO - (97.6 fm)
Tel: 952 531 691
www.coastlinefm.net
Music (70s, 80s, 90s & Contemporary), News, Talk, Weather, Sport, Travel. Coastline, in its 15th year is a popular and lively 24-hour radio station. Music, interviews, local events news, sports and national and international news bulletins.
GLOBAL RADIO - (96.5 fm)
Tel: 952 930 088
www.global.fm
Dance and RnB, News.
ONDA CERO INTERNATIONAL (OCI) - gibraltar to motril (101.6 fm)
Tel: 952 821 818
www.ondacero.es
Music, News, Culture, Lifestyle. An international station, on weekdays from 14:00-17:00 German and Scandinavian programmes are broadcast, but otherwise the mix of music and talk shows are in English. Latest local and national Spanish news in English; link up news bulletins with the BBC. Very informative about local events and interactive phone-in programmes.
REM - nerja to gibraltar (104.8 fm)
www.rem.fm
Music (70s, 80s, 90s & Contemporary), News, Talk, Weather, Lifestyle, Sport, Travel. REM (Radio Europe Mediterraneo) radio is the most listened to English radio station on the Costa del Sol. It broadcasts from San Pedro, transmitting over the whole of the Costa del Sol and on the Internet.
BEAT FM - (95.5 fm)
Tel: 952 599 468
www.thebeatspain.com
Music, News, Sport, Lifestyle, Weather.
SUN FM - (100.6 & 106.2 fm)
www.sunfm.es
Dutch radio station offering the latest international music.