The plan, which will take full effect on Wednesday and requires air conditioning to be turned down in hotels, restaurants and stores and restrictions on lighting, will save between 4% and 5% of Spain's energy use, Energy Minister Teresa Ribera told a news conference today.
Last month, EU countries agreed to voluntarily reduce gas use by 15% to prepare for a shut-off of Russian supply. Countries like Spain that argue they have a limited ability to export gas to EU neighbours can request a lower target of around 7%.
Ribera said that while regions could propose "new and concrete" proposals for tweaks to the plan before August 31, there was no going back.
"The royal decree is already in force. We cannot postpone it," she said after a virtual meeting with energy ministers for the 17 regions.
Regions held by the right-wing opposition Partido Popular (PP), such as Madrid, say the plan was too heavy a burden on their economies.
In highly-decentralized Spain, regional authorities will be responsible for its enforcement, raising the risk they could derail it.
The PP today formally asked the government to withdraw the royal decree approved last week.
"(This decree) has been prepared without measuring the economic impact on trade, tourism or culture," Miguel Tellado, a spokesman for the PP, said.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez appealed to the PP to show "unity, responsibility and solidarity" by backing the plan.
"I know I'm preaching in the desert though, as we have a negationist opposition," he told reporters at a news conference.
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In a Movistar shop this morning, no aircon on and it felt really warm and the poor staff still had the day to go. 27c is uncomfortably warm to work in, especially in work clothing. Customers can go and find somewhere cooler, if they can find somewhere, but the workers?