BOE-A-2026-19427 ·18 September 2026 ·Circular Medium impact
Corporate

Natural gas distribution companies: new remuneration methodology to incentivise decarbonisation and digitalisation

Circular 6/2026 establishes a new methodology for determining the annual remuneration of natural gas distribution companies for their activities (art. 5.1). This new model replaces that of Circular 4/2020 and introduces specific incentives for digitalisation, cybersecurity, methane emission reduction, and the promotion of renewable gases (art. 5.1). Remuneration is calculated using a formula that integrates the existing market base remuneration with variable components based on performance regarding these new strategic objectives (art. 5.1).

In 3 key points

  1. Remuneration includes incentives for digitalisation, cybersecurity, and methane emission reduction (art. 5.1). (art. 5.1)
  2. Incentives are established for the injection and promotion of gases other than natural gas (art. 5.1). (art. 5.1)
  3. The gas year runs from 1 October to 30 September (art. 3). (art. 3)

How it affects those involved

For gas distribution companies, the regulation transforms their revenue model by linking part of their remuneration to energy transition and technological security objectives (art. 5.1). Facility owners must now direct their investments towards methane emission reduction and network digitalisation to maximise their remuneration (art. 5.1). The calculation period for remuneration is defined by the 'gas year', spanning from 1 October of the previous year to 30 September of the current year (art. 3).

Lifecycle

2026-09-18PublishedPublished in the BOE
2026-09-19Into forceComes into force (fecha_vigencia (indice oficial del BOE))
Official text Based on BOE data (boe.es). Information, not advice.
PDF on boe.es

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