The article aims to analyse the evolution of gas companies in Spain from
their starting point in the middle of the nineteenth century (when the
business was limited to public lighting), up until the complexity of the
present day. This process is divided into three main stages according to
the general context of the sector. In each period, the profile of the companies
will be established, as well as their market and the institutional
constraints and strategies that were adopted by the companies to overcome
those challenges. We found that most of the peculiar features of
the Spanish case history were shared with other Southern European
countries. Among others, we outline the delay and low dissemination,
the scarcity and high cost of coal, the lack of capital, the technology
and know-how and the strong presence of foreign companies.
