Why electricity bills in Spain double for expats this Summer – And easy ways to fight back

Questions and nasty shocks about doubled electricity bills begin to come up every year around this time as many expats new to Spain are shocked to receive bills far above what they have been paying in previous months.

Many question whether they have been overcharged when receiving such hikes. However, there’s nothing unusual about this with the bills as when Summer arrives so do increases in demand for cooling.

A typical two-bedroom apartment can cost between €80 and €100 a month during winter but easily reach €150 to €180 once hot weather arrives. Air conditioning causes most of that increase, as a standard split unit operating eight hours daily can add €35 to €50 to monthly bills by itself. Two units running push extra costs toward €70 to €100 before other factors change.

Simple summer steps to avoid big bills

Cleaning AC filters represents one quick pre-summer action that instantly saves money. Units with clogged filters work 15 to 20 per cent harder to deliver identical cooling output, so washing those filters with warm water once monthly during summer requires only ten minutes of effort. Households can gain immediate benefits from this maintenance because efficiency improves straight away and bills drop noticeably.

Setting thermostats at 24 to 25 degrees Celsius instead of lowering them to 20 degrees saves money too since every degree lower increases electricity use by around 7 per cent. This small adjustment leads to notable savings over weeks of heavy use.

Why checking your electricity tariff matters now

Residents who have not examined their electricity tariff recently also risk higher expenses. Summer represents the worst period to discover an unsuitable contract. Differences between good tariffs and older arrangements set up by lawyers at purchase become most obvious on July or August bills. Action taken now can keep summer living comfortable and affordable for everyone involved in the expat community. Such preparation helps expats manage their finances throughout warm months.

Many expats are on the PVPC (regulated market). In summer, the price per kWh often spikes during the late afternoon when most people use it and in the evening when demand for cooling is highest across the country. Decide what time you will be at home most, and consult an energy consultant for the best prices.

Hello darkness my old friend

Closing shutters on south- and west-facing windows during peak heat hours offers another effective measure because blocking heat before it enters rooms proves far cheaper than cooling air afterwards. Spaniards all know that the best time to ventilate the home is in the morning, enabling fresh air to flow through the house, and then shut out the hot air by lunchtime.

Many from northern Europe are surprised that Spanish people spend most of summer in darkness, while the tendency for summer in the north is to open the curtains or blinds and flip open the windows. The difference is that in Spain, the air gets hot outside and brings that extra warmth inside, while the sun on the windows can act like a greenhouse and roast anything in its path.

Mind the bills

The most likely cause of rising bill prices is not so much a mistake. It is more likely to do with being underprepared. As spring gradually moves into summer, life in Spain tends to be played out in the mornings and the evenings, as most on the streets in the afternoons change from locals to tourists. It may be frustrating that most businesses close down between 2pm and 6pm, but there’s a tried and tested reason for it.