I-DE, Iberdrola España's distribution company, highlights the importance of electrifying the economy to boost competitiveness in the Region of Murcia
- Iberdrola España's distribution company held its 22nd Grids Business Meeting in Murcia and Cartagena
- The events brought together more than 180 employees and were led by Guillermo Raga, director of i-DE in the Eastern Region
i-DE Meetings in Cartagena, Murcia
The Region of Murcia hosted the 22nd Smart Electric Grids Business Meeting, organised by Iberdrola España's distributor, i-DE Redes Eléctricas Inteligentes. The various events organised in Cartagena and Murcia brought together more than 180 employees and were led by Guillermo Raga, director of i-DE in the Eastern Region, and Ángel Pallarés, the company's Area Manager in the autonomous community.
During the conference, the electrification of the economy was highlighted as a strategy for sustainability, efficiency and industrial development. Guillermo Raga emphasised ‘the great opportunity we have to industrialise the country in a sustainable way, committing to the electrification of activities that currently depend on fossil fuels. Initiatives such as the promotion of electric vehicles or the use of electricity for heating in residences and industry are clear examples of how we can move towards a cleaner, more efficient model that is committed to the planet’s future.’
He also stressed that the energy transition offers numerous benefits for the country and region, as we have abundant natural resources such as sun and wind, which are essential for generating clean and competitive energy. Under this framework, the director of i-DE stressed that all growing industries ‘will need more electricity, which will require increased investment in grids. To do so, we need to have a clear understanding of the regulatory framework to develop a business plan that will allow us to ambitiously tackle this new period (2026–2031)’.
‘Smart electricity grids are the backbone of the energy transition, as they integrate renewables and connect large industrial projects. Committing to electrification and modern, resilient grids is essential to decarbonise the economy, move forward with the energy transition and ensure a sustainable, competitive and high-quality future for society,’ said Guillermo Raga.
Murcia supports Valencia after the cold drop
During the various meetings, reference was made to employee participation from the Region of Murcia in getting the electricity back on after the cold drop, which hit the province of Valencia in October 2024. A video was shown on the progress of the il·lumina plan, through which Iberdrola España is investing €100M to redesign the electricity grid that was affected by the storm, incorporating resilience measures and the latest digitalisation standards.
The company has put together a team of 35 people dedicated exclusively to the project, which requires the participation of approximately 1,000 contractors, most of whom will be locally based, and which will benefit more than 650,000 customers in the area.
More than 30,000 km of power lines in the Region of Murcia
In the Region of Murcia, the distributor manages more than 30,000 km of power lines, has approximately 9,700 transformer stations in service and more than 70 substations. The company maintains optimal service quality for customers in the region, both individuals and businesses.
Thanks to these facilities, i-DE now has a modern, digitised grid in the Region of Murcia that is ready to meet the needs and challenges posed by the economy’s electrification. The investment made by i-DE over many years has also led to a substantial improvement in the quality of supply it offers its customers.
