What is the Self-Consumption Code (CAU) and How to Obtain It?

Who generates and provides the CAU Code?

The self-consumption code will be supplied or assigned by the electricity distributor to which the electricity generation installation is connected.

In turn, the CAU code must be requested by the installer company authorized by the distributor and that links all consumers and nearby generation installations associated with self-consumption.

If the self-consumption installation has several generation installations connected to different distributors, the CAU will be assigned by the distributor to which the highest power Electricity Generation Module (MGE) is connected, regardless of the distributor. Therefore, first, you must know who your distributor is and then continue contacting them to obtain information about your self-consumption code

If i-DE is not your distributor, nor any associated with the Iberdrola group, you can request the CAU through your distributor's customer service channels.  

What does the Self-Consumption Code (CAU) consist of?

The CAU consists of the Unified Supply Point Code (CUPS), which is specified in the system operation procedures, followed by the letter “A” and 3 numeric digits.s. 

For individual self-consumption, the CAU will be the consumption CUPS code plus “A000”. The consumption CUPS appears on your supplier's bills.

However, for a collective installation, the CAU will be generated from the CUPS of the collective self-consumption supply point by adding “1FA000”. The CAU links all consumers and nearby generation installations associated with that self-consumption group, consisting of one or more self-consumers and one or more generation installations.

How do I request the Self-Consumption Code (CAU)?

In general, to request the CAU code, the applicant (in this case, the energy installer company) must provide:

• Installation address.
• Power of the generating installation.
• Whether it is self-consumption without excess or with excess.
• For individual self-consumption, the CUPS of the consumption covered by self-consumptio.
• For collective self-consumption, the CUPS of at least one of the consumptions covered by collective self-consumption.

However, only for individual self-consumption, you can skip the previous step and deduce the code directly from the associated consumption CUPS, including the ending “A000” (for example: ES0026000010096279CP0FA000; 26-digit code).

What are the differences between CAU and CIL?

Throughout this content, we have discussed the concept of the self-consumption code or CAU, but there is another concept known as the CIL code.

The CIL code is the Production Installation Code for settlement purposes, meaning it is used to quantify and settle the excess energy generated by the installation.

 
Let's look at 3 examples:
 
1.   An installation without excess and without injection does not need a CIL code.
 
2.   An installation with excess and with a compensation contract with the supplier does not need a CIL code because the supplier compensates the energy on the bill.
 
3.   An installation with excess  where there is no compensation contract with the supplier because the energy injected into the grid is settled in the market, then it DOES need a CIL code.
 
The CIL code is necessary to settle production excess in cases where there is no compensation contract.
 
The distributor is responsible for providing this CIL code, just as with the CAU code.

Advantages of self-consumption

Self-consumption represents the best way to manage energy, as it is a valuable resource that allows you to generate energy and make the most of it along with its excess. 
 
Some of the advantages of self-consumption are: 
 
1.    Reducing installation costs.

2.    If you opt for the collective self-consumption model, it will allow you to develop an economy of scale, reducing costs on your bill. 

3.    The investment in your current installation and new installations is lower and can be recovered faster. 

4.    Optimization of space to generate more energy.

5.    Profitability of common spaces: such as rooftops (in the case of collective self-consumption).

6.    Greater energy storage capacity.

7.    Being able to actively participate in managing your energy demand according to your needs. 

In conclusion, self-consumption allows you to take a step forward in the commitment to a renewable, decentralized, and multidirectional energy system.