Practical guide to Royal Decree 736/2020

1. When does the Royal Decree come into force and which Directives does it transpose?

The Royal Decree came into force on August 7, 2020, the day after its publication in the BOE (Official State Gazette). This RD transposes European Directives 2012/UE/27 and 2018/2002, focused on improving energy efficiency and individual accounting of consumption.

The regulations require all buildings with a centralized heating and/or cooling system to install energy meters and, if this is not technically feasible (when the heating distribution is by columns), cost allocators, with the aim that each resident pays for their actual consumption of heating and/or cooling. In these communities, distribution by coefficient will no longer be authorized.

3. Will the installation of thermostatic valves be mandatory, as well as carrying out actions on the hydraulic balancing of the installation?

The Royal Decree determines that each home must have some regulation system that allows controlling consumption, whether manual or automatic. Therefore, the type of system is not specified in the regulations, so that, although its installation is recommended, it is not mandatory.

Since the entry into force of the RD, the only valid accounting systems are energy meters and cost allocators. Any other system, such as hour meters that are currently installed in many communities, are not allowed and must be replaced.

Buildings located in zones C, D or E and that have a heating distribution system by radiators (in a ring or in columns) will be subject to the obligation unless it is demonstrated, after submitting a budget (included in Annex II of the RD), that the installation of meters/cost allocators is not profitable.

Investments that have a payback period of less than 4 years are considered profitable.

Those buildings within these zones that have a heating system that does not allow measurement (single-pipe series radiators, air conditioning, steam transmitters, etc.) are exempt.

The RD also establishes that the communities of owners must install individual heating meters or cost distributors by remote reading. The deadline to request a quote from an authorized installer is shown in the following table:

Yes. Article 10 of the Royal Decree establishes the applicable sanctioning regime. The fines will be between €1,000 and €10,000 if the provisions of the Royal Decree are not complied with, with the autonomous communities being responsible for inspecting and fining, where appropriate.

The owner (Community of Owners or the owner of the building) is responsible for complying with the provisions of the Royal Decree.

The minimum frequency with which residents will receive settlements will depend on whether the meter is remote reading or is still manual reading.

Whoever performs the task of managing and settling individual consumption must meet certain requirements: have a free virtual office, install and be able to manage devices with remote reading and include all the information required in their settlements, in accordance with the provisions of the RD.

The devices must be remote reading in 2027: