Spanish electricity bills look complicated on purpose. But there are really only two lines you control — your contracted power and your consumption. The rest is taxes and fixed charges that are the same for everyone.
Here's a walkthrough of a typical €75 bill, plus the Spanish-specific terms (CUPS, NIE, potencia) you'll see scattered across it.
The seven lines you'll find
A standard PVPC bill looks like this. (Line names vary slightly between reference suppliers — Curenergía, Energía XXI, etc. — but the structure is the same.)
| # | Line | Do you control it? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Contracted power ("potencia contratada") | ✓ Yes (you can change it) |
| 2 | Energy consumed ("energía consumida") | ✓ Yes (use less, or use at different hours) |
| 3 | Meter rental ("alquiler del contador") | ✗ Fixed |
| 4 | Bono Social (discount or surcharge) | ~ Only if you qualify and apply |
| 5 | Electricity tax (5.11%) | ✗ Fixed |
| 6 | VAT (10% or 21%) | ✗ Fixed |
| 7 | Total | (sum) |
Line 1 — Contracted power
This is the maximum simultaneous load your home can draw. You pay for it whether you use any electricity or not — it's a daily standing charge.
Under the 2.0TD tariff (which all Spanish households are on since 2021), there are two contracted powers: one for peak hours (08:00–24:00) and one for off-peak hours (00:00–08:00). They can be different — and that's the first optimization most people miss.
Calculation: power (kW) × cost per kW per day × days in the billing period.
Example: 4.4 kW peak + 4.4 kW off-peak × ~€0.07/kW/day × 30 days ≈ €18.50/month.
Tip: many Spanish households still have 5.5 kW contracted from the days before LED lighting and efficient appliances. With a modern home, 4.4 kW is enough. Dropping 1 kW saves about €30/year permanently. You can change it for free (once a year) via your distributor's website — five-minute job.
Line 2 — Energy consumed
This is the part where every hour matters. Your kWh × the PVPC price for that specific hour = the cost. 100 kWh consumed at 04:00 cost half what they would at 20:00.
If you have a smart meter (all new installations are), the bill breaks consumption down by tariff period — peak, mid, off-peak — or even by hour.
A typical month:
| Period | kWh | Average price | Subtotal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak (10–14, 18–22 weekdays) | 80 | 0.180 €/kWh | €14.40 |
| Mid (8–10, 14–18, 22–24 weekdays) | 90 | 0.120 €/kWh | €10.80 |
| Off-peak (00–08 weekdays + all weekend) | 130 | 0.065 €/kWh | €8.45 |
| Total energy | 300 kWh | €33.65 |
Line 3 — Meter rental
About €0.80/month (~€9.60/year). Non-negotiable. You can technically buy your own meter, but it's hardly worth it for the typical household.
Line 4 — Bono Social
A 25–80% discount for low-income households, large families, and minimum-pension retirees. You have to apply with documentation through your reference supplier. If you haven't applied, this line shows €0.00.
Line 5 — Electricity tax
5.11% on the sum of power + energy. Same in all of Spain, non-negotiable.
Line 6 — VAT
This is where things change. During the 2022–2023 energy crisis, VAT was cut to 5%. In 2024 it moved to 10% reduced. As of 2026 it oscillates: 10% if wholesale prices stay contained, back to 21% if they spike. It's the line that swings your final total most.
Worked example: a €75 bill
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Contracted power (4.4 kW × 30 days) | €18.50 |
| Energy (300 kWh, mixed hours) | €33.65 |
| Meter rental | €0.80 |
| Bono Social | €0.00 |
| Subtotal | €52.95 |
| Electricity tax (5.11%) | €2.71 |
| VAT (10% on subtotal + tax) | €5.57 |
| Total | €61.23 |
If VAT were 21%, that same consumption would be €75 flat — €13 more without using a kWh extra.
Spanish jargon decoded
A few terms you'll see and what they mean:
- CUPS — Universal Supply Point Code. A unique identifier for your meter (starts with ES followed by 20 digits). You need it to switch suppliers. It's printed on every bill.
- NIE / DNI — your tax/ID number. Suppliers need it to set up an account.
- Potencia contratada — contracted power, line 1.
- Suministro — the supply itself. You'll see "domicilio de suministro" = the address served by this meter.
- Distribuidora — the company that physically delivers electricity to your home (e-Distribución, i-DE, UFD…). You don't choose this — it's determined by your area.
- Comercializadora — the company that bills you. You choose this.
- Lectura — meter reading. May say "real" (actual) or "estimada" (estimated).
Two levers you have
- Reduce or split your contracted power. If your breaker never trips, drop a kW. Five minutes online, savings forever.
- Shift your consumption to off-peak hours. Washing machine at 04:00, not 20:00. No life changes — just press "delay start."
The current PVPC price is on the homepage, with the 24-hour heatmap of today and tomorrow.