These figures highlight the magnitude of a problem that poses a serious risk to the physical safety of people in these areas and affects the quality of the electricity supply due to network saturation. The situation is exacerbated by fraud linked to marijuana cultivation, which accounts for more than one case daily and 10% of the energy defrauded in the province.
Indoor marijuana plantations consume energy equivalent to 80 homes, overloading electrical grids and causing safety issues and supply interruptions. Endesa has had to triple the energy capacity in affected areas to counteract this massive fraud, but the problem reappears if the source is not eliminated.
The company is reinforcing its infrastructure, including the installation of 10 new transformation centers in areas with the highest incidence. These investments aim to mitigate the consequences of fraud, primarily stemming from marijuana plantations, which can account for up to 90% of energy loss in some zones.
Endesa collaborates with law enforcement agencies in operations against marijuana crops. In the Sevillian capital, one fraud case linked to these plantations has been opened weekly; dismantling these crops reduces the energy load by 90% and restores normal electricity supply.
The indoor cultivation of marijuana, often controlled by international criminal organizations, leads to public insecurity and manipulation of electrical infrastructure. Spain accounts for 73% of marijuana seizures in the EU, with Andalusia and Catalonia being significant hotspots.
To combat fraud, anonymous reporting is encouraged through channels such as the phone number 800 760 220, the email address anomalias@enel.com, and the website www.edistribucion.com. Citizen reports in 2025 led to 22,000 inspections and actions on nearly 6,000 supplies with energy loss.
