The Spanish government's handling of the electricity blackout on April 28 remains under scrutiny, with an investigation ongoing for over two weeks without significant revelations about the cause.

On May 14, Minister for Ecological Transition, Sara Aagesen, publicly backed Beatriz Corredor, the President of Red Eléctrica, reiterating the legitimacy of her appointment in 2020 and subsequent renewal until 2028. Aagesen highlighted that Corredor was supported by over 90% of the company's capital, which is predominantly state-owned.

Aagesen defended the government's intervention in the electricity operator, stating it is essential for the public interest, despite maintaining that the operator's independence is preserved.

In a session before Congress, Aagesen addressed the status of the investigation upon her own request, reporting that the government has now ruled out the hypothesis of a cyberattack, which Red Eléctrica had also dismissed shortly after the incident.

She indicated that no responsibilities would be determined until the ultimate cause of the blackout is identified, a promise previously made by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

Aagesen affirmed the state's role in nominating board members and exercising institutional oversight to protect public interests, while denying that Red Eléctrica receives operational directives from the government.

This assertion comes amid a political debate surrounding the independence of the operator and how its decisions align with national energy policy objectives dictated by the Ecological Transition ministry.

Opposition Deputy Guillermo Mariscal from the People's Party emphasized the link between the operator's leadership and government influence, noting that the Prime Minister appointed Corredor as a means to monitor the company.

He pointed out that Aagesen had brought operational planning before the Council of Ministers, which is later executed by the operator.

Historical context reveals that previous presidents of Red Eléctrica also had ties to the Socialist Party, suggesting a long-standing relationship between state and operator management.

The state owns 20% of Red Eléctrica through Sepi, and regulations prevent private investors from holding more than 5% of the company’s equity and 3% of voting rights.

As the investigation progresses, Aagesen noted that essential data collected by the analysis committee she chairs indicates that generation losses during the blackout began in the regions of Sevilla, Granada, and Badajoz.

These losses are viewed as a symptom of the overall system instability that ultimately led to the unprecedented total failure of the electrical grid in Spain.

The minister cited fluctuations in the European system occurring thirty minutes before the blackout as reported by Entso-e, the European association of network operators, which is concurrently investigating the Iberian blackout.

However, Aagesen asserted that it is premature to determine the causes due to the complexity involved, dismissing suggestions that the energy mix directed by Red Eléctrica that day caused the outage, stating unequivocally that "there was no issue with coverage, network size, or reserve."

Since the blackout, Red Eléctrica has altered its operational strategy, increasing safety margins.

Renewable energy sources are not functioning at full capacity, while gas contributions to the electrical system surged by 78% in the twelve days following the incident, implemented through reserve services that modify market-defined mixes for the next day’s supply.

Deputy Pilar Calvo from Junts characterized the change in Red Eléctrica's operational tactics post-blackout as an implicit acknowledgment that the procedures initially defined by the operator were not adequately secure.

She underlined the ongoing tension between securing affordable energy and ensuring supply stability, stating, "the most expensive megawatt is the one that disconnects industry and leaves commerce without electricity."

Bildu Deputy Mikel Otero highlighted the operator's strategy shift toward increased gas usage at the expense of solar energy, advocating for a stronger commitment to renewables based on ecological necessity.

He pointed out that the blackout underscored the need for new tools in a 100% renewable electricity system.

Otero demanded governmental accountability regarding the blackout, stressing that existing legal frameworks assign responsibility to Red Eléctrica given the interruption of supply.

Aagesen confirmed that the committee's investigations have expanded beyond the day of the blackout to include earlier instances of system instability that have been documented by the operator.

The Vice President of Culture, Borja Sémper, referred to the government's explanations regarding the blackout as "lamentable," accusing the administration of misinformation during the electricity crisis.

The Vice Minister responded, insisting that speculation without verified information hampers clarity and reaffirmed the commitment to uncover the truth behind the incident.