General Strike 11-N 2026: mandatory minimum services in the electricity sector

Key data

Companies in the electricity sector cannot halt their operations on November 11, 2026. The Order TED/1180/2026, published in the BOE on November 7, establishes with mandatory character the minimum services that must be maintained during the general strike called for that day by multiple unions at state and regional level. The regulation affects the entire electricity supply chain: generation, transport and distribution.

The objective is threefold: to guarantee the supply of electrical energy, to protect the safety of persons and to preserve the integrity of installations. Any company that fails to comply with these minimum services is exposed to administrative and labor consequences.

What does this regulation establish?

Order TED/1180/2026 details, activity by activity, what must remain operational during the strike day. The obligations are structured around three major areas:

Electrical generation: full availability

Full availability is required in the following types of generation facilities:

• Nuclear power plants
• Hydroelectric power plants
• Pumping power plants
• Thermal power plants

This obligation also extends to non-peninsular territories, where full generation availability is equally required.

Transport and system operation

• The control centers of the system operator must be fully operational.
• The command, control and communications systems of transport companies must remain active without interruption.

Distribution and fault response

• Distribution companies must keep their command, control and communications systems operational.
• They must designate standby teams and brigades to respond to faults and guarantee local command.

In summary: no link in the electricity chain can be left without operational coverage during November 11, 2026.

Economic and operational impact

For companies in the electricity sector, this order implies a strike day in which there is no room to reduce operational staff below the established minimums. The practical consequences are:

• Extraordinary personnel costs: companies must guarantee the presence of sufficient workers to cover minimum services, which may require calls to workers on leave, additional shifts or specific standby teams.
• Mandatory designation of standby teams and brigades: it is not optional. The regulation requires that they be designated and available to respond to faults and local command.
• Risk of sanctions for non-compliance: non-compliance with minimum services can result in administrative and labor liabilities for the company. The regulation expressly provides for this.
• Application throughout the national territory: including non-peninsular territories (Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, Ceuta and Melilla), where dependence on local generation makes full availability even more critical.

The regulation does not establish specific penalty amounts in its text, but administrative liabilities in the electricity sector can be significant under current sectoral legislation.

Who does it affect?

• Electrical generation companies: operators of nuclear, hydroelectric, pumping and thermal power plants, both on the peninsula and in non-peninsular territories.
• System operator (Red Eléctrica / REE): must keep its control centers fully operational.
• Electricity transport companies: obligated to keep their command, control and communications systems active.
• Electricity distribution companies: must maintain command and control systems, and designate standby teams and brigades for faults and local command.
• Workers in the electricity sector who are designated to cover minimum services: their participation in the strike is limited by this designation.

Practical example

A distribution electricity company with presence in several provinces must, on November 11, 2026, guarantee that its command and control centers remain active throughout the day. Additionally, it must have designated intervention brigades capable of responding to faults in the distribution network.

If that company does not designate sufficient standby teams and a fault occurs that cannot be addressed due to lack of operational personnel, it directly incurs non-compliance with the minimum services established by Order TED/1180/2026. This opens the door to administrative and labor liabilities, regardless of whether the cause is the general strike.

The same applies to an operator of a hydroelectric or thermal power plant: the full availability required means that the plant must be able to operate normally during 11-N, regardless of the percentage of strike participation among its workforce.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify which facilities and systems fall under the scope of the order: nuclear, hydroelectric, pumping and thermal power plants, control centers, command and communications systems.
2. Formally designate the workers who will cover minimum services before November 11, communicating this to union representatives and the affected workers themselves.
3. Organize standby teams and fault brigades with sufficient coverage to respond to incidents throughout the day, including non-peninsular territories if applicable.
4. Verify that command, control and communications systems are operational and with personnel assigned for November 11.
5. Document all actions: designations, communications and measures adopted, to prove compliance in case of inspection or subsequent claim.
6. Consult with labor law advisors if there are doubts about the specific scope of minimum services in specific facilities, especially in non-peninsular territories.

Official source

Consult complete regulation at official source (BOE-A-2026-23371)

Disclaimer: 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-2026-23371