Closure of the Morella-La Plana electrical line (400 kV): deadlines and conditions for Red Eléctrica

Key data

The 400 kV electrical energy transmission overhead line Morella-La Plana, 65.2 km long in the province of Castellón, is numbered days. The General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines has granted Red Eléctrica de España, SAU, the authorization to close and dismantle this infrastructure, published in the BOE on June 22, 2026.

The action is not an isolated fact: it is part of the Transport Network Development Plan 2021-2026 and is an essential prerequisite condition for putting into service the new double-circuit line that will replace the current one. Without the dismantling of the old line, the new one cannot operate.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution grants Red Eléctrica de España, SAU, the authorization to close the 400 kV electrical energy transmission overhead line, single circuit, called Morella-La Plana, located in the province of Castellón.

The key elements established by the resolution are as follows:

• Execution deadline: Red Eléctrica has 12 months from the authorization of operation of the new double-circuit line to execute the closure and dismantling. After that period without executing it, the authorization expires.
• Excluded supports: The first 32 supports of the line will not be dismantled, as they are shared with another circuit that remains in service.
• Technical and environmental conditions: The authorization is subject to compliance with the requirements imposed by various administrations, including the Generalitat Valenciana.
• Dismissed request: The request for construction authorization under article 53 of the Electricity Sector Law is expressly dismissed.
• Regulatory framework: The action is included in the Transport Network Development Plan 2021-2026, which defines investments in electrical transmission infrastructure in Spain.

In practical terms, this resolution acts as the administrative "starting gun": without this closure authorization, Red Eléctrica cannot legally begin the physical dismantling of the old line, and without that dismantling, the new double-circuit line cannot enter operation.

Economic and operational impact

The direct impact of this resolution falls on Red Eléctrica de España, SAU, as the operator of the electrical transmission system. The most relevant operational implications are:

• Obligation to dismantle within deadline: Failure to meet the 12-month deadline from the authorization of operation of the new line results in the automatic expiration of the closure authorization, which would generate an administrative blockade with consequences for the commissioning of the new infrastructure.
• Environmental constraints: The resolution imposes compliance with technical and environmental requirements required by the Generalitat Valenciana and other administrations. Non-compliance with these conditions may halt or delay the work.
• Coordination with the new line: Dismantling is directly linked to the commissioning of the new double-circuit line. Any delay in dismantling directly impacts the operability of the new infrastructure.
• Shared supports: The first 32 supports, being shared with another circuit in service, require differentiated management that adds technical and operational complexity to the work.

For the municipalities of Castellón affected by the route, dismantling means the elimination of high-voltage overhead infrastructure in their territory, with the consequent effects on landscape, land use and associated easements.

Who does it affect?

• Red Eléctrica de España, SAU: Holder of the authorization and directly responsible for executing the closure and dismantling within the established deadline.
• Municipalities in Castellón affected by the route: The municipal areas through which the 65.2 km of the line runs will see the overhead electrical infrastructure in their territory modified.
• Generalitat Valenciana: Regional administration whose technical and environmental requirements condition the execution of the work.
• Companies and property owners with easements: Holders of land affected by the line's right-of-way easements, which will see these easements extinguished with dismantling.
• Electrical sector and supply companies: Insofar as the commissioning of the new double-circuit line depends on the dismantling of the old one, any delay affects the planning of the transmission system.

Practical example

Suppose the authorization of operation of the new Morella-La Plana double-circuit line is granted on October 1, 2026. At that moment, the 12-month deadline clock starts running for Red Eléctrica.

Red Eléctrica must have completed the closure and dismantling of the 65.2 km of the old line (excluding the first 32 supports shared with the active circuit) before October 1, 2027. If on that date the work is not completed, the closure authorization would expire, forcing Red Eléctrica to initiate a new administrative procedure to obtain a new authorization, with the delays and additional costs that would entail.

In parallel, throughout the process, Red Eléctrica must demonstrate to the Generalitat Valenciana and other competent administrations compliance with the technical and environmental requirements established as a condition of the authorization.

What should companies do now?

1. Red Eléctrica de España: Identify the exact date of the authorization of operation of the new double-circuit line, as that date marks the start of the 12-month deadline for dismantling.
2. Red Eléctrica de España: Plan dismantling work considering the exclusion of the first 32 shared supports and the technical and environmental constraints of the Generalitat Valenciana.
3. Land owners with easements: Verify if their properties are affected by the route of the 65.2 km line and anticipate the extinction of the right-of-way easements associated with dismantling.
4. Affected municipalities: Coordinate with Red Eléctrica the dismantling work that affects their municipal area, especially regarding access and environmental restoration.
5. All affected parties: Consult the complete resolution in the BOE (BOE-A-2026-13562) to learn about the details of applicable technical and environmental requirements.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-13562