What is CUPS? Your Spanish Electricity Supply Code Explained
CUPS is a unique code assigned to your property's electricity connection point in Spain. You'll need it whenever you switch electricity provider — here's everything you need to know.
CUPS stands for Código Universal del Punto de Suministro — the Universal Supply Point Code. It is a 20 to 22 character alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies your electricity connection point (the point where the distribution network meets your property). Every property in Spain that has electricity connected has a CUPS.
The CUPS is assigned to the physical connection point, not to you as a customer or to your current electricity provider. This means it never changes — even if you move provider ten times, sell the property, or the meter is replaced, the CUPS stays the same. It always starts with the letters ES (for España/Spain).
Think of it like a postcode but for your individual electricity meter: it lets the distribution network and any provider uniquely identify your supply point without any ambiguity.
Where to find your CUPS
Your CUPS appears in several places. The easiest is usually your most recent electricity bill:
On your electricity bill
Look near the top of the first page, often in a box labelled "Datos del contrato" (Contract details) or "Datos del suministro" (Supply details). It will be explicitly labelled "CUPS" and will begin with "ES".
In your online account
If you have an online account with your current provider, log in and look under "My contracts" or "My supply points." The CUPS will be listed alongside your contracted power and address.
On the physical meter (sometimes)
On some older meters the CUPS is printed on a sticker on the device itself, usually alongside a barcode. On smart meters this information may only be accessible digitally.
By calling your current provider
If you cannot find your CUPS on a bill or online, call your provider's customer service line. They can tell you your CUPS after verifying your identity. You are legally entitled to this information.
Why you need your CUPS
The CUPS is required any time a change is made to your electricity supply. The most common reason you need it is when switching provider — but it also comes up in other situations:
Switching electricity provider
When you sign up with a new provider, the first thing they will ask for is your CUPS. They use it to formally request the transfer of your supply point from your old provider to their billing system. Without the CUPS, the switch cannot be processed electronically — no meter visit is needed precisely because the CUPS identifies everything about your connection.
New connection or reconnection
If you are moving into a property where the electricity has been cut off, or setting up a new contract as a new resident, you will need the CUPS so the distributor can activate the supply. Your provider uses the CUPS to communicate with the distribution network.
Changing contracted power
If you want to increase or decrease your contracted power (potencia contratada) — for example, because you have installed an EV charger and need more capacity — the change is processed via your CUPS.
CUPS format — what each part means
A Spanish electricity CUPS is always 20 to 22 characters long and follows a standardised format defined by the Spanish energy regulator (CNMC). Here is how to read it:
| Part | Length | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|
| ES | 2 characters | Country code — always "ES" for Spain |
| 0021 | 4 characters | Distribution company code — identifies which distributor (e.g. Endesa Distribución, Iberdrola Distribución) owns the network at your address |
| 000012345678 | 12 characters | Unique supply point number — identifies your specific connection within the distributor's network |
| AB | 2 characters | Control characters — computed from the rest of the code as a validation checksum. Some CUPS have an optional extra character after these. |
Note: The CUPS in the example above is illustrative. Actual CUPS codes may vary slightly in length (20–22 characters) depending on the distributor.
Gas supply point code — also called CUPS
Confusingly, the gas equivalent is also called CUPS — it stands for the same thing but refers to your gas supply point rather than electricity. Gas and electricity CUPS are completely separate codes, even if you buy gas and electricity from the same provider.
Electricity CUPS
Starts with ES, followed by the distributor code and supply number. Used for all electricity-related changes — switching provider, changing contracted power, new connections.
Gas CUPS
Also starts with ES but uses a different distributor code sequence. Used only for gas supply changes. You will find it on your gas bill, not your electricity bill.
If you are switching both electricity and gas (a common combination for dual-fuel tariffs), make sure you provide the correct CUPS for each — they are not interchangeable.
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