In Mediterranean countries using solar power sounds like a great idea-- but not so much in Spain, where the government punishes small solar energy producers with taxes, fines, and even "visits" from what amounts to the Solar Police.
The Local reports the Spanish government recently changed regulations to allows inspectors to raid suspicious properties through simple administrative authorisation. Should suspects deny entry the Industry Department simply asks for a court order to guarantee the inspectors access via national police.
Such measures join fines of up to €30 million on households failing to hook solar equipment to the national grid, and thus not paying the required taxes for the generation of own solar energy.
The former socialist government encouraged the installation of solar power equipment through subsidies and the 2011 legalisation private energy generation, known in Spain as "autoconsumo." As many as 5000 Spanish households took advantage of such schemes, investing in equipment to reduce power bills later.
Reportedly Spanish solar power generation capacity exceeds demand by over 60%.