How to read your electricity bill in Spain
Understand what you are paying for, which numbers matter and what to check before comparing plans.
By Otria · Updated:
What are you paying for?
The wording and layout vary by supplier, but these are the main items to look for:
| Item on your bill | What it means |
|---|---|
| Energy — energía or consumo | The electricity you used during the billing period, measured in kWh. |
| Contracted power — potencia contratada | The capacity you have contracted, measured in kW. This affects how much you can use at the same time. |
| Meter rental — alquiler del contador | A charge for renting the meter, where applicable. |
| Additional services — servicios adicionales | Extras in your contract, such as maintenance or assistance. |
| Taxes — impuestos | Taxes applied to the relevant bill components. |
Regulated network costs and other charges may be included within prices or shown separately. Avoid adding them twice when checking the total.
The CNMC’s official bill tool can help identify and explain these components.
What is the difference between kW and kWh?
kW measures power: how much electricity you need at one moment.
Running an oven, an induction hob and other appliances together increases the power your home needs at that time.
kWh measures energy: how much electricity you use over time.
An appliance drawing 1 kW continuously for two hours uses 2 kWh. Actual consumption depends on how the appliance operates—for example, whether its thermostat switches it on and off.
Think of it this way:
- Power: what you can run together.
- Energy: how much you use over the billing period.
Why do I pay even when I use very little electricity?
Contracted-power charges depend on the capacity in your contract and the billing period, rather than simply on your consumption.
That means you can still receive a bill when your home is empty. Meter rental and contracted services may also continue.
If you use little electricity, look closely at these recurring charges when comparing offers.
What do P1, P2 and P3 mean?
These labels identify time periods, but you need to check which section of the bill you are reading.
On a typical household 2.0TD bill:
- The power section can show two contracted-power periods, P1 and P2.
- The consumption section can show three energy periods: P1, P2 and P3, commonly called punta, llano and valle.
Seeing consumption split into three periods does not necessarily mean your supplier charges three different energy prices. Check the actual €/kWh rates in your contract and bill.
Who are the supplier and distributor?
Your supplier — comercializadora — is the company you contract with and normally receive bills from.
Your distributor — distribuidora — operates the local electricity network. It is determined by your area; you do not normally choose it.
For questions about your tariff, charges or contract, start with your supplier. Your bill should also identify the distributor and the relevant contact details.
What type of electricity plan do I have?
First, check whether the contract is PVPC in the regulated market or a free-market contract.
Then check how your energy price works:
- Agreed rates for a specified period.
- A formula linked to changing market prices.
- One rate throughout the day or different rates at different times.
These descriptions can overlap. For example, a fixed-price contract can have different agreed rates for different time periods.
A fixed energy price does not mean you will pay the same total every month.
A simple example: why the energy price is only part of the bill
Imagine you use 300 kWh during a billing period.
| Illustrative energy rate | Energy charge before taxes |
|---|---|
| €0.15 per kWh | €45 |
| €0.12 per kWh | €36 |
| Difference | €9 |
The lower rate reduces the energy charge by €9 in this example. It does not establish the difference between the complete bills.
You still need to compare power charges, meter rental, additional services, discounts and applicable taxes.
These are illustrative prices, not current offers.
What should I check first?
Have your latest bill beside you and check:
- Billing dates: how many days does it cover?
- Consumption: how many kWh did you use during those days? Keep this separate from any annual-consumption figure.
- Energy rates: what were you charged per kWh?
- Contracted power: what capacity and prices appear in each power period?
- Extras: are there maintenance or assistance services?
- Discounts: what do they apply to, and when do they end?
- Contract conditions: check renewal dates and any early-exit terms in the bill or contract.
When comparing two bills, check the dates and consumption before comparing the amounts paid.
Common questions
My consumption fell. Why didn’t my bill fall by the same amount?
Some charges do not fall with consumption. A longer billing period, different prices, an expired discount or additional services can also affect the total.
Is a lower price per kWh always a better deal?
No. It may come with higher power charges or other costs. Compare the full estimated bill using the same consumption and period.
Can the QR code on my bill help?
Where your bill includes the CNMC comparison QR code or link, it can take you to official tools using information from your bill. The CNMC explains how to access its “Entiende tu factura” tool through that route.
Put your bill into perspective
Otria uses your electricity bill and household preferences to compare eligible offers, explain why they fit and estimate what you could pay.
An estimate is not a guaranteed saving. You decide whether to switch.
Find a better tariff for me →Otria is not affiliated with or endorsed by the CNMC.