If you have just bought a villa and the electricity company is asking for a boletín
, if you want more power for the air conditioning and were told you need a certificate first, or if nobody can find the electrical paperwork from the previous owner, this guide is for you. The boletín is one of those Spanish documents nobody explains to newcomers, yet it decides how much power your home can take and what you can add to it. Here is what it is, when you need one, and what you have to do yourself, which is very little, even if you live abroad.
1.What the boletín eléctrico
actually is
Boletín
is the everyday name for the Certificado de Instalación Eléctrica (CIE), the electrical installation certificate. A licensed electrical contractor signs it to certify that your home’s low-voltage installation complies with the Spanish Low Voltage Electrical Regulations (REBT). It is then registered with the regional Industry department: in the Region of Murcia through the regional government’s (CARM) online office, under procedure 0019, and in the Vega Baja with the Generalitat Valenciana.
According to the Spanish energy regulator’s (CNMC) consumer guide, the certificate records the use of the property, its floor area, the supply line and protections, the test measurements and, most importantly, the maximum admissible power (potencia máxima admisible).
1.1.Why the maximum admissible power matters to you
It is the ceiling of your installation. You can contract any power up to that figure. Above it, the installation has to be checked and a new certificate issued. This is why can I just increase my power a little?
always starts with us looking at your boletín.
2.When you will be asked for a boletín
2.1.You want more power than your certificate allows
Very common in villas: a pool heat pump, several air conditioning units, an induction hob, and the main switch trips in August. If the power you need is below your maximum admissible power, it is usually just a request to your supplier. If it is above it, you need a new certificate.
2.2.You switch from single-phase to three-phase
Changing the type of supply is a technical change to the installation and requires a new certificate. It often comes up in larger villas adding an EV charger and powerful heating or cooling.
2.3.You renovate or extend
A new consumer unit, new circuits, an extension, a pool house or an annex: the new work has to meet current regulations and the installation documents are updated.
2.4.You add solar panels
A self-consumption system is also certified and registered. In the Region of Murcia, according to the CARM’s official information on self-consumption procedures, systems with surplus compensation are registered through the same procedure 0019, together with the self-consumption register. This is the installer’s paperwork, not yours. Our turnkey installation case study in the Vega Baja walks you through it step by step.
2.5.You install an EV charger
Charging points are covered by technical instruction ITC-BT-52 of the REBT. In a villa garage the charger normally has its own circuit and protections, and the installer documents and certifies it. More detail in our home EV charger guide and on our EV charger installation page.
2.6.You buy (or sell) a resale villa
This is the one that catches many buyers out. The CNMC notes that when you buy a second-hand home, the seller should hand over the boletín. If it cannot be found, or the house has been without supply for a while, the installation may need checking before the electricity can be put in your name. Ask your lawyer or agent for it before completion, not on moving day.
2.7.Your installation is over 20 years old
There is a lot of confusion here. The boletín does not expire after 20 years. It only needs updating when the installation is modified. What can happen is that, on installations over 20 years old, the distribution company asks for a review when you make certain contract changes, such as raising the power. In practice, in an 80s or 90s villa in Torrevieja or around the Mar Menor, a power increase often ends with a review of the consumer unit.
3.When you do NOT need a new certificate
Lowering your contracted power, or raising it within the maximum on your certificate. Switching electricity supplier or tariff. Changing the account holder without touching the power or the installation (although on very old installations the distribution company may ask for a check). Replacing a socket or a light fitting like for like.
If in doubt, show whatever paperwork you have to a licensed installer and ask what applies to you.
4.What you need to do as a non-resident owner
Very little. A licensed installer (instalador habilitado) carries out the inspection, any work needed, the tests, the certificate and the registration with the regional authorities. As the owner, you mainly need to:
- Give access to the property. If you are not in Spain, keys with a neighbour, your property manager or a key holder are enough. We coordinate the visit and keep you updated in English.
- Sign as the holder where the procedure requires it. Your NIE and the property details are usually what is needed.
- Keep a copy of the registered certificate. You will want it for any future power change, solar installation or sale.
One thing we always insist on: anything involving the consumer unit or connections is work for a licensed professional. It is not a DIY job, and a certificate signed by someone who is not licensed is worthless.
5.Use the boletín to get your villa ready for solar
This is the part most people miss. If your consumer unit is being reviewed, or your power upgraded, it is the ideal moment to plan for what comes next: solar panels, a battery and an EV charger. Doing it now means doing the work once, instead of opening the consumer unit again a year later.
When we certify a villa, we usually plan for:
- Space in the consumer unit for the inverter’s protections and, if relevant, the battery.
- The right type of supply (single or three-phase) for the charger and climate control you are likely to have, not just what you have today.
- A maximum admissible power with some headroom, so you can raise your contracted power later without repeating the paperwork.
- Cable routes to the garage and the roof.
With solar panels, you often need less extra power than you thought, because your own system covers part of the daytime demand. We see this regularly on golf resorts such as Las Colinas, where an owner calls for just the certificate
and ends up comparing the full picture with real numbers. You can explore more on our solar panel installers page.
6.Frequently asked questions
6.1.Are the boletín and the CIE the same thing?
Yes. Boletín
is the common name for the Certificado de Instalación Eléctrica, signed by a licensed electrical contractor and registered with the regional Industry department.
6.2.Does the boletín expire after 20 years?
No. The certificate does not expire. It is updated when the installation is modified. On installations over 20 years old, the distribution company may ask for a review when certain contract changes are made, such as a power increase.
6.3.The previous owner never gave me the boletín. What now?
First, ask the seller or your conveyancer. If it still does not appear, a licensed installer can help you trace the registered documentation or inspect the installation and, if needed, issue a new certificate.
6.4.Do I need to be in Spain for the inspection?
No. We only need access to the property. We coordinate with your key holder and send you updates and photos.
6.5.Does a solar installation need its own certificate?
Yes, a self-consumption system is certified and registered. In the Region of Murcia, systems with surplus compensation are registered through CARM procedure 0019. Your installer handles it.
6.6.How much does it cost?
It depends on the condition of the installation and whether anything needs upgrading. That is why we prefer to see it before talking numbers.
Information checked against official sources (CNMC and CARM) at the time of publication. Regulations and procedures can change, so always confirm your specific case.
7.Let us check your installation and tell you what you really need
Whether you have been asked for a boletín or think you will be soon, the most useful step is a visit: what the regulations require, what is worth doing now, and what can be left ready for solar, a battery or an EV charger. It is free and with no obligation, and if you do not need a new certificate, we will tell you.