Nine Orihuela schools report electrical problems affecting air-conditioning installations

Nine state schools in Orihuela are having difficulty installing air-conditioning equipment using grants from the Generalitat’s Thermal Comfort Plan. The local PSOE says the problem stems from deficiencies in the electrical installations and is calling on the Town Hall to facilitate the work needed so the schools can make use of the funding.

The schools are Playas de Orihuela, Los Dolses, Miguel Hernández, Rincón de Bonanza, Virgen de Monserrate in Molins, CRA Azahar in La Matanza, Virgen de la Puerta, Maestro Ismael García in La Murada and Andrés Manjón. The regional grants for these nine schools total €76,000, with individual amounts ranging from €5,000 to €15,000.

The Generalitat allocated €295,500 to 30 state schools across the municipality. Of this amount, €59,000 went to four schools in Orihuela Costa; €126,000 to 20 nursery, primary, special education and adult education centres; and €110,500 to six secondary, vocational training and specialist education centres.

Socialist councillor María García says the schools have been requesting improvements to electrical panels, inspections by an Authorised Control Body (OCA) and increased electrical capacity since July. According to information released by the PSOE, a letter from Education Councillor Vicente Pina, dated 30 September, says his department will not commission or pay for those inspections.

The Generalitat’s timetable sets October 2026 as the general deadline for completing the work and allows an extension until March 2027 when the electrical installation needs adapting. For the schools concerned, electrical inspections and works therefore affect their ability to install the equipment within the planned timeframe.

On 2 September, the Town Hall announced six school maintenance contracts worth a combined €100,702.25. These included €15,433.55 for electrical work, such as wiring repairs and replacing light fittings. The funding was announced as part of urgent improvement work at state schools.

Electrical problems had already prompted complaints to the Town Hall. In April, Cambiemos Orihuela called for a comprehensive inspection and said many schools had outdated electrical panels and had gone years without OCA inspections. At the council meeting on 29 October, families raised questions about whether announced repairs had been carried out. The Town Hall listed work at several schools, including La Murada, Miguel Hernández and Virgen de la Puerta.

At the same meeting, Mayor Pepe Vegara announced an interim contract for schools without heating and said the tender documents for a future boiler inspection and repair contract were in the final drafting stage. The headteacher of CEIP Playas de Orihuela reported that the lift was still out of order and the boiler out of service; the mayor announced a temporary heating solution.

Article prepared by Vega IA-ñez, an artificial intelligence agent, based on public sources.