Everyday habits that cut energy and water bills

Terms used

• Valle — Valle means off-peak hours, when electricity costs least.
• Potencia contratada — The potencia contratada is the maximum power in kW you pay for in your electricity contract.
• CUPS — The CUPS is the unique code that identifies your electricity or gas supply point, shown on your bill.
• Bono social — The bono social is a discount on electricity for vulnerable households, such as low-income or large families.
• Padrón — The padrón is the town hall register of residents; its certificate proves where you live.
• Comercializadora de referencia — A comercializadora de referencia is a retailer authorised to offer the regulated tariff and process bono social applications.

Key rules

• Off-peak hours: Weekday off-peak electricity runs 00:00-08:00, and weekends and national holidays are off-peak all day.
• Switching: Switching supplier costs nothing and the new retailer cancels the old contract for you.
• Bono social: The bono social is only for a main residence in your name with up to 10 kW.
• Contracted power: Lowering your contracted power usually cuts your fixed monthly charge, but raising it can bring distributor fees.

Use power when it is cheap

On the standard home tariff, weekday off-peak (valle) hours are 00:00-08:00. All hours on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays are off-peak too. Regional and local holidays do not count.

The other weekday bands are:

• Peak (punta): 10:00-14:00 and 18:00-22:00.
• Standard (llano): 08:00-10:00, 14:00-18:00 and 22:00-24:00.

Run the washing machine, dishwasher and oven in off-peak hours. You use the same kWh but pay less. If you have an electric water heater (termo), set it to heat at night and lower its temperature.

Check your contracted power

Your contracted power (potencia contratada) is in kW. It sets the fixed part of your bill, which you pay even if you use nothing. If it is higher than you need, you pay for nothing.

Find the kW on your bill or contract. Your tariff has two values, one for peak and standard hours and one for off-peak hours. Compare them with what you really use.

To change it, ask your retailer by phone, online or in writing. The retailer charges nothing for the change itself. The distributor may charge fees if you raise the power, or if you change it again within 12 months. A raise may also need a new electrician's certificate. A reduction normally lowers your fixed monthly charge.

Do not cut it too far. If the power is too low, your supply trips when you run several appliances at once.

Compare offers and switch

Use the official free comparator for electricity and gas offers. Enter your postcode, consumption and contracted power, or the data from your latest bill.

If another offer is cheaper, contact the new retailer. You will need your CUPS supply code, your ID and your bank details. The new retailer cancels your old contract, so do not cancel it yourself. Switching is explained in full on the page about changing supplier, but the key point is that it costs nothing, takes up to 5 working days and does not cut your supply.

Before you sign, check your current contract for a penalty clause on early termination. These are mainly found in fixed-term contracts. Gas works the same way, with your gas CUPS code.

Apply for the bono social if you qualify

The bono social is a discount on the regulated tariff for vulnerable households. You can qualify through:

• Low income, judged by household size.
• Being a large family.
• Being a pensioner on the minimum pension.
• Receiving the Ingreso Mínimo Vital.

The supply must be your main residence, in your name, with up to 10 kW. It is not available for holiday homes. The discount is bigger for severely vulnerable households, who also get protection against cut-offs. Percentages and income limits are set by government decree and change, so check the current figures before you apply.

Apply to a reference retailer (comercializadora de referencia) with your ID, your household certificate (padrón) and your large-family certificate or income documents. The discount applies from the application date. Renew it every two years.

Other energy habits

• Set the thermostat at 19-21°C in winter and 25-26°C in summer. Heating and cooling are the biggest use, and each degree saves roughly 7%.
• Switch to LED lighting and turn off standby devices. This can save about 5-10% of the bill.
• Wash at 30°C with full loads.

These savings are estimates and depend on your climate, insulation and tariff.

Cut your water use

An average person uses about 130-140 litres a day. These habits bring that down:

• Take showers, not baths. A shower uses roughly 40-70 litres, a bath about 200.
• Fit aerators on taps and showerheads. They cut flow by around 30-50%.
• Fix dripping taps and leaking cisterns, which can waste many litres a day.
• Run washing machines and dishwashers only with full loads.
• Water the garden at night with drip irrigation.

In drought, regional or local authorities can cap daily use per person, ban filling private pools, limit garden watering and car washing, and add surcharges on high use. Rules differ by town and drought phase. Ask your town hall which restrictions apply now.

The checklist, documents list and timeline below put these steps in order.

Timeline and deadlines

• Check your contract for a penalty clause on early termination: before you sign with a new retailer

• Ask your retailer to change your contracted power: any time; a second change within 12 months of the last one may bring distributor fees

• Sign with the new retailer, which cancels the old contract for you: once you have chosen an offer

• Your supply moves to the new retailer without a cut-off: up to 5 working days after the contract is validated

Documents you need

• Your latest electricity bill or contract, which shows your contracted power in kW and your CUPS supply code. Your current retailer issues it.

• Your ID, needed to switch retailer or apply for the bono social.

• Your bank details, needed to sign with a new retailer.

• The household certificate (padrón), issued by your town hall, for the bono social application.

• The large-family certificate or income documents, if that is how you qualify for the bono social.

• A new electrician's certificate, only if you raise your contracted power.

Checklist

• Find the contracted power in kW on your bill and compare it with what you really use.

• Ask your retailer to lower the contracted power if it is higher than you need.

• Compare electricity and gas offers on the CNMC comparator, the official free tool, using your postcode, consumption and contracted power.

• Sign with the new retailer if it is cheaper, and leave the cancelling to them.

• Check whether you qualify for the bono social if the home is your main residence with up to 10 kW.

• Fit flow-reducing aerators on taps and showerheads.

Frequently asked questions

Can I lower my contracted power myself?

Yes, you can ask your electricity retailer to lower your contracted power by phone, online or in writing, and the retailer charges no fee for the change itself. A lower power normally cuts the fixed monthly charge. Fees from the distributor can apply if you change power again within 12 months of the last change.

Does a power increase cost anything extra?

Yes, a power increase can bring access and connection charges from the distributor, and it may need a new electrician's certificate. Stay within what your installation allows. Ask your retailer for the total before you confirm.

Can I get the bono social for a holiday home?

No, the bono social eléctrico, a discount for vulnerable households, only covers your main residence, in your name, with contracted power up to 10 kW. It applies to the regulated PVPC tariff. Renew it every two years.

Will I be without power if I switch retailer?

No, your supply is not cut off when you switch retailer, and the new retailer cancels the old contract for you. Do not cancel it yourself. On a fixed-term contract, check for a penalty clause first.

How much water do I use compared with the average?

The average is about 130-140 litres per person per day. A shower uses roughly 40-70 litres, against about 200 for a bath. During drought restrictions your council may cap daily use per person and add surcharges on high consumption.