Villages across Tarragona province are still experiencing frequent and prolonged power cuts, a year after a major blackout affected much of Catalonia. Municipalities like Mas de Barberans in Montsià and Pratdip in Baix Camp say these outages are now an unbearable "normality".
Local councils in both northern and southern Tarragona have intensified their complaints to the Generalitat and E-Distribución, the Endesa group company responsible for the electricity grid. They are calling for urgent investment to modernise infrastructure they describe as old and vulnerable to bad weather.
Mas de Barberans is one of the worst-affected areas. Its mayor, Daniela Lleixà, said power, telephone, and internet cuts have been constant for years. "We have lost count," Lleixà said, noting some outages have lasted over twelve hours.
Obsolete Infrastructure Blamed
The municipality relies on a single overhead power line, which officials consider "totally obsolete". They say its deteriorated poles fall easily during strong winds. The council has long requested a second electrical connection from Roquetes, but the project remains stalled by administrative procedures and pending land expropriations.
Lleixà criticised the electricity company for attributing most incidents to bad weather. "It has always been windy here. The problem is that the grid is not in good condition," she stated.
Molló in Ripollès faces a similar situation. Its mayor, Josep Coma, said the major blackout a year ago was experienced "with a certain normality" because residents are used to electricity and telecommunications interruptions. The most severe incident occurred last March when strong winds left the village cut off for over a day. Some residents reported being unable to contact the 112 emergency number.
"The feeling now is one of vulnerability," Coma said, expressing concern that the lack of basic services could affect the population and the tourist appeal of Vall de Camprodon.
Nuclear Emergency Concerns in Pratdip
In Pratdip, Baix Camp, the issue also has civil security implications. The village is within the influence area of Tarragona's Nuclear Emergency Plan (PENTA) due to its proximity to the Vandellòs II nuclear power plant. Mayor Sílvia Carrillo warned that when the power fails, the municipality becomes almost isolated, with no telephone coverage or reliable communication systems.
"If there is a medical or nuclear emergency and the power goes out, we have to drive several kilometres to find mobile coverage," she said.
The affected councils report that responses so far have been limited to meetings, commitments, and "good words", with no visible structural actions. Endesa sources, however, deny widespread serious problems. They maintain that the most significant incidents occurred during storms and severe weather between late 2025 and early this year. The company stated it is continuing to implement an investment plan agreed upon and supervised by the Generalitat.
Many rural municipalities continue to demand what they consider a basic right: a stable electricity supply, equal to that in larger cities.
