Over the last 6 months I have spent a lot of time in the UK, attending to business. My house in Spain has been empty with only the pool water-changing mechanism left switched on. But my electricity bills have been high. Does anyone know how I can explain my concerns in English to Iberdrola and get them to investigate. Perhaps one of my neighbours (ahem) is getting access to the electricity I am paying for !

We are also in Pego ... and our electricity bills have been fairly high over the winter, although we've also been in UK. We have owned our property for 6 years now and there is a significant increase from when we first signed up to Iberdrola.

Thanks NoelRosie. Perhaps we could compare notes on electricity when I am next in Spain. Even with increased rates per unit I still think I am being charged too much. In Jan the charge was E50 - for an empty house! If you would send an email to xxx I will contact you before my next visit. Meanwhile please ask Brit friends there if they know where I could complain to Iberrola (in English). Thanks again for replying.

while it may or may not totally explain the high bills, electricity charges increased by 10% in January

Not at all the bill for electricity consumed in January is not likely to have arrived yet.

If you have a pool pump you are likely to be on a high potencia and you could switch to a dual tarrif then run the pump overnight in winter so that it cuts your costs. Do a test when you are next there shut everything off at the main incoming switch and see if over 10 mins or so the meter moves that at least will set your mind at rest that no one is sharing your supply.

Call the number on the bottom of the bill & ask for the English speaking service, always found them helpful and they will also change the bill to an English language one if you ask.

Thanks to all who have replied, so far.

It depends on how long you run your pump for each day and the tariff you're on. Assuming it's a 0.75hp pump (standard 8 x 4 pool), then it uses about 550w per hour. So if you run it for say 4 hours a day then thats about 65kwh per months, which is roughly about €11. There's also a standing charge and other costs, the value of which depends upon on your potencia. Assuming its about 9.2kw, then the cost would be about €17/18, all plus IVA at 18%, so about €35 per month.

Also, you need to know whether the bill was estimated. We've been away since the start of December. My January bill (covering use in December) was read, but my February bill (I access them on line) was estimated and was €42 , so about €6/7 higher than it should be (I only run my pool pump and alarm system).

I'm not sure it's worth calling Iberdrola, until you've worked out how much you think it should be.

Thanks BillyJo. Good advice.