As part of an institutional visit, the two parties addressed the situation of the electricity transmission grid in the region and have shown their willingness to continue collaborating on the strengthening of joint action measures. José Folgado has expressed an interest in continuing to work for energy development in the region and actively collaborating for the improvement and sustainability of the system.

Also present at the meeting was the Regional Councillor of Economy and Employment, Tomás Villanueva, with whom the electricity demand and consumption data in the region was analysed.

In this regard, José Folgado explained that demand for electricity in Castilla y León represents 5.6% of the total for the Spanish peninsula, whilst its production reaches 13.1%. During 2012, the consumption of the region declined by 1.8%. In addition, the Chairman of Red Eléctrica highlighted the role of wind power in the region where 25% of the total installed capacity on the Spanish peninsula is found and which in 2012 produced 23.5% of the total generation.

Castilla y León currently has a transmission grid consisting of over 4,500 km of 400 kilovolts (kV) circuit and 3,100 km of 220 kV circuit. Amongst the most important projects that Red Eléctrica will carry out in the coming years, is the Tordesillas-Galapagar-San Sebastián de los Reyes axis, which will strengthen the connection between this region and Madrid. Also noteworthy is the line that will pass through Venta de Baños to feed the Valladolid-León-Asturias high speed train and the line that will be built between Olmedo and Zamora for the Madrid-La Coruña high speed train.

Visit to the La Mudarra substation
After the interview, José Folgado moved on to the town of La Mudarra, where Red Eléctrica has one of the largest substations of the Spanish electricity system. Mr. Folgado was accompanied by the delegate of the Government, Ramiro Ruiz Medrano, and the Director General of Energy and Mines of the Junta de Castilla y León, Ricardo González.

Red Eléctrica de España collaborates with the Junta de Castilla y León on social projects such as the agreement signed with the Ente Regional de la Energía (EREN - Regional Energy Authority), the Regional Ministry of Economy and Employment and the Regional Ministry of Education for the development of an energy education and environmental programme, taught in secondary schools and adult centres. The programme has trained more than 4,200 young people and 1,500 adults in the region.

As a result of this collaboration, it has also been agreed to carry out training sessions in 2012 and 2013 for the State Security Forces on the possible risks in the electricity supply and security in high-voltage electricity facilities.