Business · Energy & Commodities · 17 hrs ago
17 face trial over alleged €61.3 million electricity market fraud
Spain’s National Court has begun a trial of 17 people accused of fraud, criminal organisation and money laundering in the electricity market.
Prosecutors say the group used electricity retailers to attract customers with low prices, then bought far less power than they needed while continuing to bill customers.
The alleged scheme caused €61.3 million in losses across the electricity system, according to estimates by grid operator Red Eléctrica Española.
Endesa, Naturgy and Repsol are among the affected companies, but they are not accused and appear as injured parties.
Prosecutors say the retailers moved customers to new companies when unpaid bills led to one business being barred from operating.
They also allege that €50.3 million was transferred to hide the money’s origins.
The alleged losses could affect electricity distributors and, through system costs, potentially consumers; the trial will determine the criminal case, and the companies could seek civil damages after a final judgment.
The National Court is due to begin a trial of 17 people accused of an alleged €61.3 million electricity market fraud.
Prosecutors allege the scheme used electricity retailers to attract customers, then bought too little power while continuing to bill them.
The alleged losses include €19.83 million for Endesa Generación, €17.29 million for Naturgy and €4.84 million for Repsol.
Prosecutors identify Esteban Roig Padrosa as the alleged leader and are seeking a 16-year prison sentence for him.
The companies are described as injured parties, not as accused in the case.
- Who
- Seventeen people are on trial, including alleged leader Esteban Roig Padrosa.
- What
- They are accused of continued fraud, criminal organisation and money laundering in an alleged €61.3 million electricity market scheme.
- When
- The trial was due to start on Tuesday, 13 October 2026.
- Where
- The National Court in Spain.
- Why
- Prosecutors allege the group sought illicit profits by underbuying electricity, leaving debts unpaid and moving funds to conceal their destination.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The alleged scheme used electricity retailers to attract customers and continued billing them while reducing electricity purchases.
When a retailer accumulated unpaid bills and was disqualified, the group allegedly shifted customers and some activity to another company.
The National Court was due to begin the trial of 17 accused.
- Accused
- 17 people
- Alleged total harm
- €61.3 million
- Endesa Generación
- €19.83 million
- Naturgy
- €17.29 million
- Repsol
- €4.84 million
- Sentence sought for alleged leader
- 16 years in prison for Esteban Roig Padrosa
Sources
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