Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of May 20, 2026, from the Directorate General for Energy Policy and Mines |
|---|---|
| Publication | June 11, 2026 |
| Effective date | June 11, 2026 |
| Beneficiary | Red Eléctrica de España, SAU |
| Affected installation | Operable bypass at Morata 400 kV substation, Morata de Tajuña (Madrid) |
| Affected axes | S.S. Reyes–S. Fernando–Morata 400 kV and Morata–Moraleja 400 kV |
| Resulting new axis | S.S. Reyes–S. Fernando–Moraleja at 400 kV |
| Category | Energy |
| Year | 2026 |
If you own land or properties in Morata de Tajuña (Madrid) and Red Eléctrica de España's electrical installation passes through them, this resolution directly affects you: as of June 11, 2026, Red Eléctrica has the legal backing to initiate the forced expropriation process on the property and rights necessary to execute the works.
The Resolution of May 20, 2026, published in the BOE of June 11, 2026 (BOE-A-2026-12703), grants this declaration under the Electricity Sector Law. The public utility declaration is the prior and essential step for an energy sector company to initiate expropriation proceedings on private properties.
What does this regulation establish?
The resolution authorizes the construction of an operable bypass at the Morata 400 kV substation, located in Morata de Tajuña (Madrid). The action technically consists of the exchange of positions of 400 kV transmission lines to create a new high-voltage electrical transmission axis.
The line axes affected by the reconfiguration are as follows:
| Current axis | Voltage | Sections |
|---|---|---|
| S.S. Reyes – S. Fernando – Morata | 400 kV | San Sebastián de los Reyes → San Fernando de Henares → Morata de Tajuña |
| Morata – Moraleja | 400 kV | Morata de Tajuña → Moraleja de Enmedio |
The result of the action will be the formation of a new axis S.S. Reyes – S. Fernando – Moraleja at 400 kV, which optimizes electrical transmission in the southern metropolitan area of Madrid.
During the processing of the file, consultations were held with the following organizations and entities, with which agreements were reached:
- AESA (State Aviation Safety Agency)
- Directorate General of Roads of Madrid
- Cementos Portland Valderribas
The resolution is granted without prejudice to other environmental and territorial planning authorizations that may be necessary to execute the works. That is, Red Eléctrica must additionally obtain the environmental and urban planning permits that correspond before starting construction.
Economic and operational impact
The public utility declaration has a direct and very specific economic consequence for affected property owners: it enables forced expropriation of their property and rights. This means that Red Eléctrica can initiate the procedure to occupy or acquire the necessary land, even if the owner does not want to sell or cede it.
From an operational perspective, the implications are as follows:
- For affected landowners: they will receive formal notification of the start of the expropriation proceedings. They have the right to participate in the process, submit objections regarding the valuation of their property, and, in case of disagreement, appeal to the Provincial Expropriation Board.
- For Red Eléctrica de España: it can initiate procedures for temporary occupation or definitive acquisition of the land, as well as request pending environmental authorizations.
- For companies with activities in the area (such as Cementos Portland Valderribas, already consulted in the file): the agreements reached during processing determine the conditions of impact on their facilities or accesses.
No economic compensation amounts have been published in this resolution, as these are set in the subsequent phase of the expropriation proceedings, case by case, based on the valuation of each affected property.
Who does it affect?
- Property owners in Morata de Tajuña (Madrid) whose land is in the bypass route or affected line axes.
- Red Eléctrica de España, SAU, as the beneficiary of the declaration and responsible for executing the works.
- Companies with facilities or accesses in the area potentially affected by the works (such as Cementos Portland Valderribas, which already participated in the file).
- Administrations with jurisdiction in the area: Directorate General of Roads of Madrid and AESA, which have already been consulted and have reached agreements.
Practical example
Imagine you are the owner of an agricultural plot in Morata de Tajuña through which the new 400 kV transmission line runs or must run. With the publication of this resolution on June 11, 2026, Red Eléctrica already has the legal authorization to initiate the expropriation proceedings on your property.
The typical process would be as follows: you would receive an official notification indicating that your property is included in the list of affected property and rights. You would have a period to submit objections. If there is no agreement on the price, the file goes to the Provincial Expropriation Board of Madrid, which sets the compensation. If you are also not satisfied with that valuation, you can appeal to the administrative litigation jurisdiction.
A similar case is that of Cementos Portland Valderribas: as a company with facilities in the area, it was consulted during processing and reached an agreement with Red Eléctrica before the declaration was granted, which allowed it to negotiate the impact conditions on better terms.
What should affected parties do now?
- Verify if your property is within the scope of the action: consult the complete file in the BOE (BOE-A-2026-12703) and in the Directorate General for Energy Policy and Mines to check if your property is listed in the list of affected property.
- Get advice from a lawyer specialized in expropriations: the public utility declaration has already been granted; the next step is the valuation phase, where legal assistance can make a significant difference in the compensation you receive.
- Submit objections within the deadline: once formally notified of the start of the expropriation proceedings, you have the right to challenge both the necessity of occupation and the proposed valuation. Do not let deadlines pass.
- If you are a company with facilities in the area: contact Red Eléctrica to learn about the extent of the impact on your accesses, supplies, or infrastructure, and negotiate the conditions before they are set unilaterally.
- Review that Red Eléctrica obtains additional authorizations: the resolution is granted without prejudice to environmental and territorial planning authorizations. If your activity depends on the area, monitor that these permits are processed correctly before work begins.
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean that the public utility declaration is granted to Red Eléctrica?
It means that the Directorate General for Energy Policy and Mines officially recognizes that the bypass works at the Morata 400 kV substation are of general interest. This declaration is the legal instrument that enables Red Eléctrica de España to initiate forced expropriation of the property and rights of affected owners in Morata de Tajuña (Madrid), even if they do not want to cede or sell their land.
What works will be carried out exactly in Morata de Tajuña?
The action consists of the construction of an operable bypass at the Morata 400 kV substation and the exchange of positions of the lines of the axes S.S. Reyes–S. Fernando–Morata 400 kV and Morata–Moraleja 400 kV. The result will be the formation of a new electrical transmission axis S.S. Reyes–S. Fernando–Moraleja at 400 kV, which connects San Sebastián de los Reyes, San Fernando de Henares, and Moraleja de Enmedio.
Can work begin immediately after this resolution?
Not necessarily. The public utility resolution, published on June 11, 2026, enables the expropriation process, but the resolution itself indicates that it is granted without prejudice to other environmental and territorial planning authorizations that may be necessary. Red Eléctrica must obtain those additional permits before starting construction.
What companies or entities were consulted during the file processing?
During the processing of the file, AESA (State Aviation Safety Agency), the Directorate General of Roads of Madrid, and Cementos Portland Valderribas were consulted. Agreements were reached with all three entities before the public utility declaration was granted.
What can I do if my property is affected by the expropriation?
You have the right to participate in the expropriation proceedings: you can submit objections regarding the necessity of occupation and the valuation of your property. If you disagree with the proposed compensation, the case goes to the Provincial Expropriation Board of Madrid. If you also do not accept that valuation, you can appeal to the administrative litigation jurisdiction. It is recommended to have specialized legal advice from the beginning of the process.
Official source
View complete regulation in official source (BOE-A-2026-12703)
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-2026-12703