i get my bank statement every month and i have noticed my electric has gone up a lot i haven been in spain since sept for 2 weeks and my bill 70 odd euro,
its getting silly i get a bill every 2 months for at least 50e and im not there any advice please

There is a monthly standing charge which you pay even if you use no electricity.

That amount is based on your contracted Potencia and assuming a fairly standard minimum potencia of 3.3kw that works out at about €17 a month. If you had the slightly higher potencia of 5.5kw the charge would be nearer €30.

arr right thanks ,that sound about right then be easer when we move over can keep an eye on it better i was just reading about endeser dule fuel any one know about it

I'm in the same situation as you, although with Iberdrola - my potentia is 4.75Kw and the bills are at least 65 euros every two months.

It seems as though the standing charge is very high in Spain, so there is nothing you can do to bring the bills down if you're not there.

My potencia is 4.75 but my standing charge is not that much. It has gone up but around 40 Euro for 2 months if not there.

i was reading about a new company who do gas and lekkie but need to read a bit more about them

It shouldn't make much difference as the electricity rate (not standing charge) is/was government controlled.


Recently, the main companies increased the standing charges and reduced the actual usage charges to try and claw some money back from non-resident folk or second home owners.

I really don't think the motivation is non-residents. That's a pittance compared to those who are permanent residents (and forced to buy energy from the cartels).

As the government-imposed per-Kw price increases, naturally people are forced to consume less of it, and/or turn to cheaper alternatives such as gas, solar, etc. As you can imagine, that doesn't sit well with Spain's most politically-connected dinosaurs.

That's what they are "clawing back"; Diminishing consumption.

Occam's Razor would suggest it's simply more profitable to have high standing charges. They are guaranteed some minimum revenue even as people use less electricity and turn to alternatives.

In fact, anyone with any electrical service at all pays it (which is most people) - And in that way, it's not all that different from a TV licence, except it isn't paid to the government, it's paid to the cartel (in addition to the taxes you pay, which in turn, some part of every Euro goes to subsidise the energy companies).

Best of all, it's with full governmental complicity (which makes it all legitimate) - and helps explain how Spanish energy companies enjoy some of the world's highest profits, whilst collecting billions in subsidies.

But in all fairness, I suppose it's 'unfair' that Spanish energy companies should be forced to compete. I don't think they ever were faced with that in the past. Why now?

Besides, I reckon all those charges are imposed to 'protect' Spanish consumers from competition from 'unproven' and 'unauthorised' sources, such as 'alternative energy'. I've heard you can get cancer from energy not generated by Endesa.

Besides, this profiteering helps the cartel to incessantly lobby government to tax alternative energy into oblivion. If this keeps up, I reckon they'll eventually get their way, and we'll all be eternally safe from electrically-transmitted diseases.

The electricity companies are now facing serious competition in the free market. I have a free market contract with Iberdrola and they have reduced my usage charges by 25% in February last year.

It will be interesting to see if they can better that offer next month when the contract is due for renewal.

Unfortunately, for most users, who are in the state controlled tariff there is effectively no competition, but the rates are still below what I am forced to pay in the "Free" market although the two are getting closer all the time.

Lucky you. The only option we have here is Endesa. You can arrange for Iberdrola to >bill< you for it (and there is little if any difference in cost), but it's all generated and serviced by Endesa.

But yes, there is competition - the cartel have >alternative energy< generation to compete with. Solar in particular is getting cheaper to install and maintain, and is more efficient than it's ever been, and therefore increasingly adopted. And that represents only a clear threat to the cartel.

If the cartel have their way (and considering how politically-infused the cartel is, they're likely to get at least some part of what they seek), then one way or another, generating energy independently will be made less desirable than simply buying it from the cartel - at whatever price.

-AND/OR- they will make it law that anyone daft enough to invest in generating their own energy will be penalised with a legal obligation to have a connection to the grid - and pay at least the minimum standing charge to the cartel;

-AND/OR- those generating their own energy will be obliged to put any excess energy back on the grid - so the cartel can resell it.

In any case, Spain will likely rank in the top 10, if not the top 5 world's highest electricity costs for the foreseeable future, despite it's nearly ideal climate for solar energy generation.

...but no doubt it's all for the "common good".

What is the standing charge and unit rate in Mallorca?

Endesa have more than doubled my standing charges to about 40E a month without explanation. Circumstances are such that the property is generally empty & it appears I'm being penalised as 'a low user' but I heard there WERE options for a fixed tariff I didn't hear this from Endesa. Advice would e welcome. I'm in Riviera.

Hi Shazz, Euro 74 .00 per quarter, and i am rarely there. its all standing charges in my case. i am over this weekend and agagin in May June Sept & Oct lets hope i dont need the air con/heating.....

Are the " standing charges" solely admin charges or is there an " up to" amount of electricity useage included too?

It's a standing charge based on the contracted potencia. There are no units included.

It's the same with all companies, there are no inclusive contracts.

The only real choice is whether to have a single 24hr tariff or the dual tariff where 14 hours are at about half price and the remaining ten hours at a slightly higher price.

You can compare the prices from different companies at

Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia. Comparador de Ofertas de Energía: Gas y Electricidad