Spain's power grid rejects blame for blackout, pledges record investment
By Pietro Lombardi
MADRID, June 30 (Reuters) - The chair of Spanish electricity grid operator Redeia defended the company after a massive blackout in April and pledged record investment at a tense shareholder meeting on Monday, where she survived an impromptu vote on her removal.
Redeia has faced criticism over a massive power outage that left most of Spain and Portugal in the dark on April 28. But chair Beatriz Corredor again pinned the blame on power generating companies.
Along with Chief Executive Roberto Garcia Merino, Corredor defended Redeia's actions before and during the blackout, including its planning of power sources to control voltage and management of the interconnector with France.
A government report on the outage pointed to Redeia's failure to calculate the correct mix of energy as one of the factors hindering the grid's ability to cope with a surge in voltage that ultimately led to the blackout.
The country's largest energy companies have also criticised the management of the power link with France.
BLACKOUT FALLOUT
On Monday, Corredor secured the backing of shareholders, who voted to keep her in position in an unplanned vote held at the request of one shareholder.
The CEO ruled out setting aside provisions to cover any costs related to the blackout, saying Redeia always followed existing rules and procedures. But Corredor acknowledged risks to its reputation.
"The numerous episodes of misinformation ... have intensified pressure and public scrutiny over Redeia," she added.
Corredor pledged to defend the company and its workforce "in the face of unfounded, and sometimes very serious, accusations seeking to undermine our reputation".
Energy firms, analysts and politicians have called for more investment in Spain's power grids.
"The company's next strategic plan will involve the execution of an unprecedented volume of investments," Corredor said, without giving details.
Investments have been increasing in recent years and will surpass 1.4 billion euros ($1.6 billion) in 2025, Garcia Merino said.
($1 = 0.8537 euros)
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