The residential sector registered a downturn in natural gas demand of 6% over the course of a somewhat uneven year in terms of temperatures. The first quarter was less cold than in 2008, the spring saw similar temperatures while the autumn was notably warmer than in 2008. As mentioned earlier, the rise in sales in this market in December was not enough to offset the downturn seen in the autumn.

At the close of 2009 the number of customers using natural gas exceeded 7.1 million, almost 3 million more than in the year 2000.

It should be pointed out that in the second half of 2009 the transfer to natural gas of customers in Majorca using propane was completed. This was one of the changes which occurred following the arrival of natural gas in the Balearic Islands.

The domestic/commercial market accounted for 13.8% of natural gas sales, 0.6% higher than the figure for 2008. As is known, this is a relatively low level compared with the average for the European Union, where winters are colder.