Switching electricity suppliers in Spain is free, takes 21 days, and never causes a power outage. But it's also wrapped in Spanish-language jargon that can stop expats cold. Here's the practical version: what documents to gather, who speaks English, and how to actually get a better deal.
First: regulated vs free market
Spain has two electricity markets running in parallel:
- Regulated tariff (PVPC) — set by the government, hourly prices. Available only through "reference suppliers" (a small list).
- Free market ("mercado libre") — each supplier sets their own pricing. ~70% of Spanish households are here, including most expats by default (because rented properties usually arrive with a free-market contract).
Switching means changing which company bills you and what plan they put you on. The physical electricity, the wires, the meter — none of that changes.
The big suppliers
| Supplier | Group | English support? |
|---|---|---|
| Iberdrola / Curenergía | Iberdrola | Limited |
| Endesa / Energía XXI | Enel | Limited |
| Naturgy / Comercializador de Referencia | Naturgy | No |
| Repsol Luz | Repsol | No |
| TotalEnergies | TotalEnergies | Variable |
| Holaluz | Independent | Yes — explicitly English-friendly |
| Octopus Energy España | Octopus (UK) | Yes — fully English |
| Som Energia | Cooperative | Catalan / Spanish only |
| Plenitude (ex-Eni) | Eni | Limited English |
If language matters, Octopus Energy España and Holaluz are by far the easiest. Both have English-language websites, English customer support, and modern apps. Octopus in particular is a UK import with the same customer-service culture you'd expect from there.
Three plan types you'll see
- PVPC (regulated) — hourly price tracking the wholesale market. Only available through reference suppliers. Best if you can shift consumption to off-peak hours.
- Free market — fixed — guaranteed €/kWh for 12 (sometimes 24) months. Stability, no surprises. Best if you consume mostly in peak hours and can't shift.
- Free market — indexed — like PVPC but with a small commercial margin added. Some are nearly identical to PVPC; some add €0.02–0.03/kWh.
Documents you need before applying
Have these to hand:
- NIE or DNI (your Spanish ID number)
- Passport (sometimes requested as backup)
- CUPS — your meter's unique 22-character ID (starts with "ES"). It's printed on every bill, usually first or second page.
- IBAN — for direct debit billing. Spanish accounts strongly preferred; some suppliers accept SEPA accounts from other EU countries.
- Address of supply ("domicilio de suministro")
- Current contracted power (potencia) — also on your bill
That's it. No notary, no in-person visit, no proof of residence beyond what's on the bill.
The switching process — 21 days
By Spanish law, switching takes 21 calendar days from the moment you sign with the new supplier:
- Day 0 — you sign with the new supplier (online or by phone).
- Days 1–5 — they send the request to the distributor (the wires company, not the billing one).
- Days 5–20 — distributor processes. You don't need to do anything; your old supplier is automatically informed.
- Day 21 — first reading on the new contract. Old contract closes automatically.
No power outage. No technician visit (your meter doesn't change). The old supplier sometimes calls trying to retain you with a counter-offer — you can ignore them or use it as leverage.
Cancellation penalties
Most free-market plans have a 12-month minimum. Cancel earlier and you may pay around €30 (legally capped at 5% of the remaining contract value).
PVPC has no minimum and no penalty — leave any time.
What to compare
Don't just compare the headline €/kWh. Compare:
| Variable | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Power charge (€/kW/day) | A "cheap" energy rate with a high power charge can cost more overall |
| Fixed monthly fee | Some plans have €5–10/month fixed regardless of consumption |
| Term length | 12 vs 24 months (longer = harder to escape if prices drop) |
| Auto-renewal price hike | Read the fine print — many plans automatically jump €0.03/kWh after year 1 unless you renegotiate |
| Bundled extras | Plans with "free maintenance" or "smart thermostat included" often hide the cost in higher kWh prices |
Comparison portals (the Spanish equivalent of compare-the-market)
- selectra.es — biggest aggregator, with English-speaking phone advisors. They're paid by suppliers (commission-based) but the comparisons are reasonably neutral.
- comparadorluz.com — independent, less polished.
- CNMC's official comparator (
comparador.cnmc.gob.es) — the regulator's own tool. Slow, ugly, but objective. Worth checking.
When to switch
Three good reasons to switch:
- Your fixed-rate plan ended — auto-renewal usually means a price hike. Worth shopping.
- You moved house — old contract often doesn't follow you efficiently. Fresh start with a clean choice.
- Wholesale prices are low and you can't shift consumption — lock in a fixed rate while it's cheap.
To check what PVPC is doing right now (so you can compare against any fixed offer), see the live price on the homepage.