Sánchez demands urgent data from power companies following historic blackout

The Spanish government has issued an official request for critical information from electric companies concerning the massive blackout that occurred on Monday. President Pedro Sánchez has publicly highlighted these companies, particularly focusing on the private operators, amidst concerns over their accountability for the incident.

With no conclusive information to date regarding the causes of the blackout, government sources have indicated that Sánchez convened a meeting at the Palacio de la Moncloa to seek cooperation from these operators in the ongoing investigation.

This request is not merely a formality; the government has set a strict deadline for the electric companies, including Red Eléctrica, which is state-owned, to deliver all relevant data within hours. The official demand seeks millions of signals from the control centers of the electrical networks, and the deadline for submission is set for later today.

The government aims to obtain not only data from the critical five seconds during which electricity consumption dropped to zero but also information on the circumstances leading up to and following this pivotal moment. Third Vice President and Minister for Ecological Transition, Sara Aagesen, confirmed in a press conference that the request was made yesterday, urging companies to provide the information as swiftly as possible.

In its investigation, the government is particularly focused on digital records, which they believe can provide valuable insights. Initial data has already begun to arrive and is currently under analysis. Additionally, Moncloa plans to inspect the facilities of various private operators to ensure they have not suffered any cyberattacks. The primary objective remains to gather comprehensive information.

Once the power supply was restored, prioritizing the clarification of the blackout's causes became imperative for the government. This move aims to identify the fault and prevent a recurrence of such an event in the future. To that end, an investigative commission has been established. Although presented as an "independent" committee, it is set to be directed from Moncloa, with Aagesen at the helm.

The commission is scheduled to meet for the first time this afternoon, and it is expected to have access to all telemetry data and records from the control centers of various private operators. This information will be crucial in determining what transpired during the five fateful seconds when 60% of the electricity was suddenly lost, leading to the collapse of the electrical system. Aagesen has stated that they are ready to conduct a comprehensive audit.

The National Security Council convened this morning to finalize the committee's composition, which will include various ministries: the Presidency through the Department of National Security, Defense with the CNI and the General Staff, the Interior via the National Center for Critical Infrastructure Protection (CNPIC) and the Cyber Coordination Office (OCC), as well as the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Function. The committee will also involve the Nuclear Safety Council and the National Cybersecurity Institute of Spain (INCIBE). Furthermore, the committee may invite experts and representatives from both the public and private sectors to contribute to a thorough understanding of the events.