After moving to the Canary Islands, one of your first tasks is to set up the basic utilities (electricity, water, gas) in your new home. Each provider has its own procedures, and timelines range from the same day to two weeks. This guide walks you through the steps to avoid being left without utilities and to make the most of the Canary Islands' particular features.
Electricity: providers in the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands' electricity market is fully liberalised and you can choose from the major national operators as well as some local ones:
- Endesa: the most widespread, with physical offices on all the main islands
- Naturgy (formerly Gas Natural Fenosa): combined electricity + gas deals if your home has gas
- Iberdrola: competitive rates, 100% online management
- TotalEnergies: index-linked tariffs with discounts for Canary Islands residents
- Holaluz: 100% renewable, online
Required documentation
- DNI/NIE
- CUPS for the property (a 22-character code identifying the supply point, found on the previous tenant's last bill or on the electrical certificate)
- Rental contract or title deed
- Bank account IBAN for direct debit
- If the meter is new: Electrical Installation Certificate (CIE) signed by an authorised electrician and registered with the Cabildo
Timelines
- Change of account holder (property with an existing active contract): 24–48 hours, no interruption
- New connection (empty property or cancelled contract): 5–7 working days
- New connection with new installation (new build, power upgrade): 15–30 days
Recommended power capacity in the Canary Islands
The mild Canary Islands climate means you can contract lower power capacities than on the mainland:
- Flat 50–70 m² without air conditioning: 3.45 kW
- Flat 70–100 m² or with A/C: 4.6 kW
- Detached house with electric heating: 5.75–9.2 kW
You pay the "fixed charge" based on contracted capacity every month, so over-contracting is money down the drain. Add up the kW of your appliances running simultaneously (hob + oven + washing machine + dryer + lighting) and allow a 30% margin.
Water: municipal or island-wide managers
Water in the Canary Islands is managed at municipal level, not by a single large operator. Each local council or island consortium has its own provider:
Main managers by island
- Tenerife: Emmasa (Santa Cruz de Tenerife), Teidagua (Adeje, Arona, Guía de Isora), Aqualia (various municipalities)
- Gran Canaria: Emalsa (Las Palmas), Canaragua (various), Aguas de Telde
- Lanzarote: Canal Gestión Lanzarote
- Fuerteventura: Aqualia, Canaragua
- La Palma: Aqualia + municipal management companies
- La Gomera and El Hierro: direct municipal management
Documentation
- DNI/NIE
- Rental contract / title deed
- Previous tenant's last bill (with meter number)
- Bank account IBAN
Timeline and Canary Islands specifics
Connection usually takes 3–7 days and the meter reading is carried out by an operative during a scheduled visit. Important: water in the Canary Islands is a scarce and expensive resource (partly desalinated). Bills are noticeably higher than on the mainland, especially on islands such as Lanzarote or Fuerteventura.
Tip: in tourist areas (Adeje, Mogán, Arona) some providers apply a "non-resident" tariff until you can prove you are registered on the municipal census. Submit your certificate of census registration (empadronamiento) as soon as possible to activate the resident tariff.
Gas: the great absentee in the Canary Islands
Unlike the mainland, the Canary Islands do NOT have a piped natural gas network in most homes. Gas for cooking or hot water is supplied in two formats:
Butane gas cylinders
The most common option. You order your first cylinder by phone and after that you swap empty cylinders at the local tobacconist's or from the neighbourhood delivery service. Current cost: 17–18 € per cylinder (exchange price, not purchase). No contracts or direct debits required.
Main distributors: Disa, Repsol, Cepsa.
Propane gas by tank
For large homes or residential complexes (mainly in tourist areas in the south). This involves a buried or external tank rented from the operator (Repsol, Cepsa, Naturgy), which refills it 2–4 times a year. Contracted tariff with a fixed monthly fee plus consumption.
Electric hobs / induction cooktops
More and more new homes in the Canary Islands are dispensing with gas and using induction hobs plus an electric water heater. If your new home is of this type, you do NOT need to set up a gas connection — you simply need to increase your contracted electrical capacity.
Internet and telephony
Although not a "utility" in the strict sense, internet access is a priority today. Providers with good coverage in the Canary Islands:
- Movistar / Telefónica: fibre coverage in almost all main towns
- Vodafone: fibre and 5G coverage in tourist areas
- Orange: fibre in main towns
- MásMóvil/Yoigo: competitive rates
- DIGI Mobil: the low-cost option favoured by young people and students
Connection timeline: 5–15 days depending on whether a physical router installation is needed.
Task checklist: order of connections after moving in
- Day 0 (key handover): change of electricity account holder (24–48h) to avoid being left without power
- Day 1–2: set up municipal water connection
- Day 2–3: order your first butane cylinder (if applicable) or set up propane connection
- Day 3–7: sign up for internet + telephone
- Week 2: register on the municipal census and submit the certificate to your water provider to activate the resident tariff
- Week 3–4: update your address on your DNI, with the tax authority and at other institutions
Common mistakes to avoid
- Not asking your landlord for the CUPS: without it, you cannot set up your electricity. Ask for it before signing the rental agreement
- Taking over the previous tenant's power capacity without checking: if they were a couple with a dryer and you live alone, reduce the capacity and save 5–15 €/month
- Not comparing electricity tariffs: on the open market there are differences of 20–30% between providers. Use the official CNMC comparison tool
- Forgetting the census registration certificate: if you live in a tourist area, you will be charged the non-resident tariff until you submit it
Just arrived in the Canary Islands?
At Horizont Atlantic we do more than removals: we guide you through the most critical procedures during your first days on the islands. If you need a removal quote or advice on census registration, residency or customs management, contact us with no obligation.
Frequently asked questions about setting up electricity, water and gas in the Canary Islands
How long does it take to set up electricity in the Canary Islands?
If the meter is already installed (the norm in a property with a billing history): 1–5 working days after an online request (Endesa, Iberdrola, Naturgy, Octopus all operate in the Canary Islands). If there is no meter or it is a new build: arrange an electrical certificate with an authorised installer (50–150 €), then submit a request to the provider — 7–21 days in total.
What about water? Is it connected automatically or do I have to apply?
You must apply actively to the local water supply company. In Tenerife: EMMASA (Santa Cruz de Tenerife), Aqualia (Adeje, Arona and others), Aguas de Adeje, various consortiums. In Gran Canaria: EMALSA (Las Palmas), Canaragua, other municipal providers. Connection time: 3–7 working days. Cost: 30–80 € plus a variable deposit.
Is there a natural gas service in the Canary Islands?
There is NO natural gas network in the Canary Islands (no gas pipeline reaches the islands). The options are: butane gas in cylinders (Cepsa, Repsol supply, ~17 €/cylinder 12.5 kg), centralised propane gas (residential complexes with a shared tank), or electric cooking (increasingly common in new builds). If you are coming from the mainland and rely on gas, consider adapting your hob or installing an electric water heater.
What is fibre-optic internet like in the Canary Islands?
Excellent coverage in urban areas (Movistar, Orange, Vodafone, Digi, Másmóvil, Lowi). In rural villages or mountainous areas coverage can be limited (DSL or 4G/5G as an alternative). Check coverage for your specific address on providers' websites before signing up. Fibre connection timelines: 5–15 days.
Do I need any special certificates because it is the Canary Islands?
Not for basic connections. If you bought a new-build property: you need a Certificate of Completion (CFO) and a Certificate of Habitability to set up utilities. For second-hand properties: a valid electrical certificate (<20 years old) and a water installation certificate will suffice. If the certificates are old (>20 years) or missing, hire an installer to renew them before applying for connection. More on procedures: census registration in the Canary Islands.
