Municipalism calls for public ownership of the electricity grid
A Non-Legislative Proposal promoted by AMEP and presented by six parliamentary groups calls for reclaiming public control over a key infrastructure for the energy transition and the common good
Six parliamentary groups registered this Wednesday in the Spanish Congress a Non-Legislative Proposal calling for public ownership of the electricity distribution grid. The initiative, promoted by the Association of Municipalities and Entities for Public Energy (AMEP) with the support of Fundación Renovables, is currently backed by 119 municipalities, two provincial councils, one county council and several entities.
The proposal, presented by SUMAR, ERC, EH Bildu, BNG, Més-Compromís and Podemos, argues that the electricity distribution grid —an essential infrastructure for everyday life and the energy transition— should become publicly owned. The aim is to move towards a more transparent, decentralised and common good-oriented management model.
At present, the grid is controlled by private operators functioning under a natural monopoly regime, with limited public oversight and a strong capacity to shape the energy model. According to AMEP, this situation creates difficulties for connecting new renewable energy projects, delays the energy transition and hinders new industrial investments, while also limiting public institutions’ ability to intervene in a strategic infrastructure.
The proposal advocates for a change of model that would recover public ownership of the electricity grid and move towards transparent management, with greater decision-making power for municipalities and regional governments, public access to data, and energy planning oriented towards the common good rather than private interests.
It also foresees a gradual transition from the current model to this new framework, with guarantees for existing operators.
👉 At Engineering Without Borders, we have long defended that the energy transition cannot remain in the hands of the same oligopolies responsible for the current extractivist and unequal model. Democratising energy means advancing towards public and community control over strategic infrastructures, guaranteeing citizen participation and putting energy at the service of collective needs rather than private profit.
In a context of climate emergency and growing inequalities, recovering public capacity over the energy system is a matter of sovereignty, social justice and democracy.
The proposal is expected to be debated in the Spanish Congress during the month of June.
