The electricity demand in Spain was below the previous day’s level at midday during the general strike on 11 November 2026. At 12 noon, demand stood at 32,823 megawatts. That was 877 megawatts, or around 2.6 per cent, less than at the same time on Tuesday, Spanish media reported, citing data from the grid operator Red Eléctrica reported.
Demand was also lower than the operator’s forecast. Red Eléctrica had expected 34,678 megawatts at 12 noon. The reported figure was therefore around 5.35 per cent lower. The comparison with the forecast and that with the previous day use different reference points; the two percentages therefore do not describe the same thing.
The gap with the previous day had narrowed over the course of the morning. At 8.30 am, demand was still reported to be just under 9.5 per cent lower, and at 10 am around 6.6 per cent lower. The midday figures are a snapshot, not an assessment of the entire strike day. Megawatts measure the demand for power at a particular point in time, not the amount of electricity consumed over a whole day.
For the nationwide general strike trade unions and tenants’ organisations had called. Among other things, they are demanding higher wages and measures to make housing affordable in the face of rising rents and living costs. Supporters include the major trade unions Comisiones Obreras and Unión General de Trabajadores.
The authorities set for the Electricity supply minimum service levels A directive published in the Spanish Official State Gazette was intended to ensure supplies and the safety of people and facilities during the stoppage. The call for a strike generally covered 11 November; special time arrangements applied to shift-based businesses.
Electricity demand can provide indications of reduced economic activity, for example when businesses halt production. However, it cannot directly show how many people are on strike or what proportion of the fall in demand is attributable to the stoppage. Further data and information on participation would be needed for a reliable assessment of the day.
A comparison with the general strike of 14 November 2012 is of limited value. Figures from that time refer to the whole day and cannot be directly compared with a single midday reading. In addition, among other things, energy efficiency and self-consumption have changed.
Editor: Daniel Mayer (Article created with AI assistance).