Iberdrola ‘pulls its finger out’ in rural powercut blackspots

The Vall de Seta, in El Comtat, had no electricity for four days due to snow, but ongoing investment in reliable connections has earnt praise from isolated villages

POWERCUTS in rural parts are gradually being eradicated thanks to a major investment by electricity board Iberdrola.

Targeting the Alicante province hinterlands of the Alcoià and El Comtat districts, and the Marina Alta’s remote Gallinera and Alcalà Valleys, a hefty cash injection has already been made and another €1million is due to be ploughed into the grid.

Heavy rain, snow, thunder storms or high winds would nearly always see the power going off in these areas until recently, but mayors of several isolated villages say they have noticed a massive improvement already.

Iberdrola was spurred into action by a crisis in 2010 in El Comtat’s Seta Valley: snowfall led to the electricity going off in several mountain villages, many of which were without power for four days.

In one of these, Millena, mayor César García says ‘the situation has been improving since’.

A new power line has been installed between Benisili and Margarida, a tied hamlet of Planes, and another, 5.1 kilometres long, between Benisili and L’Orxa will be in place by the end of the year.

Work will then start on the connection between Margarida and the Vall d’Alcalà.

Iberdrola is using a helicopter to fit the cables, as they have to cross high mountains and deep valleys with no roads or footpaths.

Bird protection measures have been included – padded wires and poles and anti-collision elements that improve visibility.

Among the mayors who have spoken positively about the work to date and to follow, Pablo Martínez of the Vall d’Alcalà says: “Since we complained a year ago, it seems [Iberdrola has] pulled its finger out.

“Before, we’d get power cuts at the drop of a hat.”