Public utility of the 15 kV electrical reform in La Sotonera

The Department of Economy, Competitiveness and Employment of the Government of Aragon has specifically declared the public utility of the reform of the 15 kV medium-voltage power line in the municipality of La Sotonera (Huesca), through Order ECE/1225/2026, of July 21, published in the Official Gazette of Aragon number 160, of August 19, 2026. The declaration enables the compulsory expropriation of the assets and rights necessary for the execution of the project and the imposition of the right-of-way easement.

The installation, promoted by the company EDistribución Redes Digitales, SLU, corresponds to file number AT-118/2020 and consists of the reform of the “Amovible” line SA 10,00543, section 2, between existing support number 9 and the “Bolea” transformation center number 2, with branches to the “Conrat”, “Guillen” and “Bolea” number 3 centers, as well as the reform of CT number 2 and the construction of a new CT “Bolea” number 3.

Processing and regulatory framework

The request for public utility was submitted on December 13, 2022, and was subject to public consultation, with announcements in the Official Gazette of Aragon number 39, of February 27, 2023, and in the Diario del Alto Aragón. On February 27, 2023, the promoter submitted an annex to the project to adapt it to the requirements of the report from the City Council of La Sotonera, dated September 24, 2020, and on April 10, 2023, it updated the list of affected assets and rights.

The procedure was processed in accordance with Royal Decree 1955/2000, of December 1, and Law 24/2013, of December 26, on the Electricity Sector, whose articles 54 to 56 recognize the public utility of distribution facilities for the purposes of compulsory expropriation and the imposition of the right-of-way easement. The Provincial Service of Huesca issued a favorable report on June 25, 2026.

Allegations and project adjustments

During the second public consultation period, opened with an announcement in the Official Gazette of Aragon number 65, of April 3, 2025, allegations were received on March 19, 2025, from Ernesto Primitivo Calvo Garasa, owner of estates number 7 and 15, who questioned the change in routing and the impact on irrigation pipes. The promoter responded on April 25, 2025, maintaining the routing as it complies with regulations and presents minimal impact.

As a result of a new technical solution presented on February 2, 2026, estates number 19, 20, and 21 were excluded from the list of affected assets, and agreements were reached with the owners of estates number 3, 8, 14, and 18, as well as with the owner of the newly incorporated estate with cadastral reference 22088A009000250000UU.

Affected assets and resources

The list of assets and rights subject to necessary expropriation, contained in Annex I of the order, includes properties in the municipality of La Sotonera:

• Ernesto Primitivo Calvo Garasa (property number 7, reference 22088A009000760000UO), with temporary occupation of 378.96 m² and definitive occupation of 2.75 m².
• Jorge Sanclemente Bailo (property number 22, reference 22088A009000710000UP).
• Alfonso Laporta Orleans (property number 23, reference 22088A009005050000UH).

Against the order, which concludes the administrative process, an appeal for reversal (recurso de reposición) may be filed within one month, or a contentious-administrative appeal may be filed before the Contentious-Administrative Chamber of the High Court of Justice of Aragon within two months.

The declaration of public utility represents a decisive step for the modernization of the distribution network in the region of La Sotonera, as it allows for the occupation of the necessary land and guarantees the electricity supply. For the affected owners, it entails the processing of expropriations and easements, with the right to corresponding compensation, in a procedure that remains open to appeal.

Source: Official Gazette of Aragon, number 160, of August 19, 2026, section III. Other Provisions and Agreements (official reference: BOA20260819024).