Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of October 5, 2026, from the State Secretariat for Energy |
|---|---|
| BOE Publication | October 7, 2026 |
| Effective date | October 1, 2026 (retroactive to the beginning of Q4) |
| Affected parties | Owners of renewable energy, cogeneration and waste facilities with specific remuneration regime |
| Category | Energy |
| Legal framework | Order TED/526/2024, Law 24/2013 on the Electricity Sector, Royal Decree 413/2014 |
| Period | Q4 2026 (October-December 2026) |
Owners of electrical generation facilities with specific remuneration regime and costs linked to fuel prices have new operation remuneration (Ro) values applicable from October 1, 2026. The Resolution from the State Secretariat for Energy, published in the BOE on October 7, 2026, executes the quarterly review provided for in Order TED/526/2024 and updates the parameters that determine how much each standard facility receives during the fourth quarter of the year.
The adjustment is not discretionary: it is an automatic correction mechanism designed to prevent these facilities from being overpaid or underpaid relative to their actual operating costs. The practical result is that regulated income for Q4 2026 may differ from Q3, and the difference is directly reflected in the system operator's settlements.
What does this regulation establish?
The Resolution updates the operation remuneration (Ro) values applicable to standard electrical generation facilities whose operating costs depend essentially on fuel prices. This adjustment is made each calendar quarter in accordance with the procedure established in Order TED/526/2024.
The three parameters reviewed in each quarterly update are:
- Electricity market price: estimated from OMIP futures for the current quarter.
- CO2 emission rights price: updated with estimates current at the time of the resolution.
- Fuel price: specific to each standard facility, reflecting the actual operating cost of each technology.
The legal framework supporting this mechanism is Law 24/2013 on the Electricity Sector and Royal Decree 413/2014, which regulate the specific remuneration regime for electrical energy production facilities from renewable sources, cogeneration and waste.
The stated objective of the quarterly adjustment is for remuneration to faithfully reflect the actual evolution of costs and income, avoiding both overremuneration (which would penalize the system) and underremuneration (which would compromise facility viability).
Economic and operational impact
The direct impact of this resolution materializes in the settlements made by the system operator to owners of facilities under the specific remuneration regime. Any variation in Ro values translates into more or less regulated income during October, November and December 2026.
The factors that determine the direction of change (up or down relative to Q3 2026) are precisely the three updated parameters:
- If the estimated electricity market price (OMIP futures) for Q4 rises relative to Q3, Ro tends to decrease, since the facility obtains more market income and needs less regulatory supplement.
- If fuel price rises, Ro tends to increase to compensate for higher operating costs.
- If CO2 rights price rises, the impact varies depending on the technology and its emission intensity.
From an operational perspective, the resolution requires no administrative action by the facility owner: the update is applied directly by the system operator in settlements. However, Q4 financial planning must incorporate the new Ro values to avoid deviations in cash flow projections.
Who does it affect?
- Owners of renewable energy facilities under the specific remuneration regime (mainly technologies with fuel costs: biomass, biogas, geothermal).
- Owners of cogeneration facilities with specific remuneration regime, whose operating costs depend on natural gas or other fuel prices.
- Owners of waste treatment facilities with electrical generation and specific remuneration regime.
- CFOs and financial managers of energy companies with these facilities in their portfolio, who must update their regulated income models for Q4 2026.
- Energy advisors and consultants who manage financial planning for these assets.
Practical example
A company owning a biomass cogeneration facility under the specific remuneration regime receives a monthly settlement from the system operator that includes the operation remuneration (Ro) corresponding to its standard facility.
With the effective date of this resolution on October 1, 2026, the Ro value applicable to that standard facility is recalculated incorporating:
- The new estimated electricity market price for Q4 2026, obtained from OMIP futures.
- The updated CO2 emission rights price.
- The fuel price (biomass) corresponding to that standard facility for the quarter.
If, for example, fuel price has risen relative to Q3, the Ro of that facility will be higher in Q4, compensating for the increased raw material cost. The company's financial manager must compare the new published Ro values with income projections for October-December and adjust the budget if there is significant deviation. The system operator's settlement will automatically apply the new values from October.
What should companies do now?
- Identify if your facility is included: check if your renewable energy, cogeneration or waste facility has a specific remuneration regime and if its operating costs depend essentially on fuel prices. If so, this resolution directly affects you.
- Consult the new published Ro values: access the full text of the Resolution in the BOE to learn the operation remuneration values assigned to your standard facility for Q4 2026.
- Update Q4 2026 financial projections: incorporate the new Ro values in your regulated income models for October, November and December. Detect if there is deviation from what was budgeted.
- Verify the first October settlement: when the system operator issues the settlement for October 2026, check that the Ro values applied match those published in the resolution.
- Anticipate the Q1 2027 review: the mechanism is quarterly. Plan ahead for the review of values for the first quarter of 2027, which will be published presumably in January 2027.
Frequently asked questions
What is operation remuneration (Ro) and how is it calculated for Q4 2026?
Operation remuneration (Ro) is the regulatory supplement received by electrical generation facilities with specific remuneration regime to cover the difference between their operating costs and income obtained in the market. For Q4 2026, its value is calculated by incorporating three updated parameters: the estimated electricity market price from OMIP futures, the CO2 emission rights price and the fuel price specific to each standard facility. The legal framework is Order TED/526/2024, Law 24/2013 on the Electricity Sector and Royal Decree 413/2014.
From when do the new Q4 2026 Ro values apply?
The new operation remuneration values are applicable from October 1, 2026, although the resolution was published in the BOE on October 7, 2026. The application is retroactive to the beginning of the quarter and is reflected in the settlements made by the system operator.
What facilities are affected by this quarterly update?
Standard electrical energy generation facilities under the specific remuneration regime whose operating costs depend essentially on fuel prices are affected. This includes renewable energy facilities (such as biomass or biogas), cogeneration and waste. Facilities without specific remuneration regime or without fuel price dependency are not affected by this resolution.
Do I need to complete any procedures with the system operator for this update?
No. The update of Ro values is applied directly by the system operator in periodic settlements. No administrative action is required by the facility owner. However, it is advisable to verify that the values applied in the first October settlement match those published in the resolution and to update Q4 2026 financial projections.
How frequently is operation remuneration updated and when will the next review be?
Operation remuneration is updated each calendar quarter, in accordance with the procedure established in Order TED/526/2024. This resolution covers Q4 2026 (October-December). The next review, corresponding to Q1 2027, will be published presumably in January 2027.
Official source
Consult complete regulation at 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-2026-20899
