Responsibility of updating electric meter

My friend has put down a deposit on a rural Spanish house. The electricity meter is an old one and no electric is connected. Is it the responsibility of the seller to change the old meter for a current one and have the electric connected. We raised the issue with the estate agent who said they were unaware the electric is not connected, I don't believe this as it's their job to know what they are selling. Could someone please advise?

I believe this to be a quite normal practice. When a house is empty the meter is removed so that no monthly standing order bills are incurred. This was the case with our house, purchase d eight years ago.

On the day we moved in the electricity board installed a new meter and registered the property in my name for future bills. There was no charge for this, and it was arranged by the estate agent.

Note, I live in a village, towns may well have other systems in place, but the. Principal should be the same.

I think you have to have a boletin before they'll re connect. It's an inspection (and upgrading of the electricity supply in your house if needed) by an approved electrician. We needed a new supply cable to the meter and it cost about 600 euros

Thanks for your replies they have been very helpful.