IBERDROLA has secured more than 300,000 contracts for products and services associated with the supply of electricity and gas, such as its maintenance service for gas and central heating installations, emergency response service for electrical problems, payment protection insurance and assistance for SMEs, not to mention its repair and renovation service and legal advice and IT assistance services.

This impressive landmark mirrors the company’s commercial strategy and is geared towards offering bespoke solutions to guarantee maximum levels of customer satisfaction at all times.

By unveiling this range of related services, IBERDROLA is attempting to break free from the traditional role of an electricity or gas supplier to offer its customers efficient solutions while steering the business towards a strategy based on profitable growth.

The company closed 2008 with over one million contracts within the liberalised Spanish market, encompassing the supply of electricity, gas and associated products and services.

IBERDROLA has witnessed a marked increase in its new accounts over recent months and has closed over 12,000 new contracts a week through channels such as its corporate website (www.iberdrola.com), customer service points and relationship managers for large accounts and telemarketing.

Furthermore, the company has signed collaboration agreements with the Spanish consumer associations FACUA, CECU, FUCI, UCE and UNAE with the objective of heightening social awareness of the energy sector and foster a more efficient use of natural resources.

Commitment to the fast-approaching liberalisation of the electricity sector

The overriding aim of IBERDROLA with all these initiatives is to continue helping consumers adapt to a market currently in the middle of an extensive liberalisation process, which will reach a new milestone on 1 June when the last resort supply (suministro de último recurso, or SUR in Spanish) will come into effect.

From this date onward, distribution companies will only concern themselves with managing the networks and grids, while the retailers will be charged with supplying energy to customers on a free market.

Against this backdrop, last resort retailers(*) will begin to operate from July onward by offering consumers electricity at the price dictated by the Spanish government through its so-called tariff of last resort (tarifa de último recurso, or TUR in Spanish). This tariff is available to customers with contracted power requirements of 10 kilowatts or less, the vast majority of households and some small-sized companies.

With this new regulatory environment on the horizon, IBERDROLA is rolling out different initiatives to cater to the needs of all its customers, regardless of their contracted power supply, all offered at hugely competitive prices and featuring unbeatable levels of service.

Of the new commercial activities being ushered in by the company, we would highlight the launch of the SME Loyalty Plan, which enables these kinds of companies to meet their electricity needs while enjoying premium service levels, all subject to extremely attractive terms and conditions.

In the interests of raising awareness among consumers of the imminent arrival of this new regulatory framework, IBERDROLA has also set up numerous communication channels for these purposes, such as its website, customer care telephone line and customer service offices. With this objective in mind, the company intends to open 50 new customer service points throughout Spain during 2009, which will complement its 75 existing points.