Gas and butane bottles

It is for anyone considering, planning or carrying out a move to Spain. By the end, you will know whether you need gas, how to contract piped gas or buy bottles, and how to stay safe and compliant.

Start with "Gas or all-electric: which supplies does your home need". It helps you decide whether to keep or skip a gas connection. After that, read the page that matches your home:

• Piped natural gas: checking, starting or transferring a contract
• Butane bottles (bombonas): buying, replacing and what they cost
• Gas inspections (revisión) and what to do if you smell gas

Key rules

• Bottle deposit: A first butane bottle normally needs a one-off returnable deposit, and later exchanges need no new deposit.
• Butane price: The maximum price of a 12.5 kg butane bottle is revised every two months, with any change capped at 5 percent.
• Gas inspection: Piped natural gas installations in homes must be inspected every 5 years.
• Gas smell: If you smell gas, open windows, close the gas stopcock, avoid switching anything on or off, and call 112 from outside.
• Pipes: Pipes or a boiler in the home do not prove the gas supply is active; the CUPS status does.
• Who to call: Leaks and meter problems go to the distributor; billing and contract questions go to the supplier.

Gas and butane bottles: the whole process, step by step

Gas and butane: from first check to routine upkeep

• Decide whether you need gas at all (read: Gas or all-electric: which supplies does your home need): before you rent or buy, or before you sign any gas contract

• Check whether the home has piped gas and find the gas CUPS on a bill (read: Piped natural gas: checking, starting or transferring a contract): before you choose a supplier

• Start a new contract or transfer it to your name, then wait for the distributor to activate or confirm supply (read: Piped natural gas: checking, starting or transferring a contract): once you have the CUPS; a transfer is normally done without a visit and without a cut

• If there is no piped gas, buy your first butane bottle with a returnable deposit (read: Butane bottles (bombonas): buying, replacing and what they cost): when you move in; later exchanges need no new deposit

• Exchange empty butane bottles and watch the maximum price, which is revised every two months with any change capped at 5 percent (read: Butane bottles (bombonas): buying, replacing and what they cost): each time a bottle runs out; price revisions fall in January, March, May, July, September and November

• Allow the distributor in for the piped gas inspection and fix any defects it finds (read: Gas inspections (revisión) and what to do if you smell gas): every 5 years, when the distributor sends notice

• If you smell gas, act at once as set out in Gas inspections (revisión) and what to do if you smell gas: at any time

Documents you may need

• Your ID — Piped natural gas: checking, starting or transferring a contract

• The gas CUPS — Piped natural gas: checking, starting or transferring a contract

• An installation certificate — Piped natural gas: checking, starting or transferring a contract

• Proof that you legally occupy the home — Piped natural gas: checking, starting or transferring a contract

Gas and butane bottles: questions that cross several articles

How do I know if my rented flat really has working piped gas?

Ask the landlord for a recent bill, which shows the gas CUPS, a code starting ES that is separate from the electricity one. Pipes or a meter alone do not prove supply is active, so a supplier or the distributor can look up the CUPS and confirm. Read Piped natural gas: checking, starting or transferring a contract, then Gas or all-electric: which supplies does your home need if there is no gas.

Is there a regulated gas tariff I can choose instead of a free-market offer?

Yes, the regulated tariff, called the TUR, exists for homes and small businesses using up to 50,000 kWh a year, but only designated last-resort suppliers offer it. Free-market offers are the alternative, and you can move between the two.

Who arranges and pays for the gas inspection after I take over a contract?

The distributor arranges the inspection, sends you notice and you book a date and allow access. The regulated fee is billed to the customer, and you can hire an authorised installer for any repairs afterwards. See Gas inspections (revisión) and what to do if you smell gas, and Piped natural gas: checking, starting or transferring a contract for the transfer.

Does moving into a flat with no piped gas mean I must use butane?

No, you can also choose an all-electric setup, which needs no gas contract or inspection. Butane bottles are the usual fallback if you want gas for cooking or heating without a pipe connection. Compare both in Gas or all-electric: which supplies does your home need, then read Butane bottles (bombonas): buying, replacing and what they cost.