How much should I pay for electricity in Spain? How to work out your bill and spot overpaying
Short answer: what you should pay depends on two things about you, your contracted power and the kWh you use, and two prices in your tariff. With the formula below you can work it out in two minutes. If your bill comes out well above the calculation, or your real average price per kWh is high, you are overpaying.
The Spanish electricity bill formula
| Item | How it is calculated |
|---|---|
| Power (potencia) | contracted kW × price per kW per day × days |
| Energy (energía) | kWh used × price per kWh (by time band if your tariff has them) |
| Electricity tax | 5.11% of power + energy |
| Meter rental | around €0.81 a month for a home |
| VAT | 21% of all the above (IGIC in the Canary Islands) |
A worked example
A home with 4.6 kW using 250 kWh in 30 days, on an example tariff of €0.11 per kW per day and €0.13 per kWh:
| Power: 4.6 kW × €0.11 × 30 days | €15.18 |
| Energy: 250 kWh × €0.13 | €32.50 |
| Electricity tax (5.11%) | €2.44 |
| Meter rental | €0.81 |
| VAT (21%) | €10.69 |
| Total | €61.62 |
The prices are examples to show how the bill is built. With the prices in your contract, the calculation is the same.
Signs you are overpaying
- A high real average price per kWh: total before taxes divided by kWh used.
- Power is a big share of the bill: if it is more than a third and it is not a holiday home, you probably have too much contracted power. Each extra kW costs around €40-50 a year.
- Lines that are not energy, power or taxes: maintenance plans or insurance.
- A contract nobody has reviewed in over two years.
We'll do the maths for you
Voltaris rebuilds your bill line by line with your real data, free and in English, and tells you what you would pay with the right tariff and power. Reply within 24 working hours.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I pay for electricity in Spain per month?
It depends on your contracted power, the kWh you use and your tariff's prices: power (kW × daily price × days) plus energy (kWh × price), plus 5.11% electricity tax, meter rental and 21% VAT.
How do I know if my Spanish electricity bill is normal?
Work out your real average price per kWh (total before taxes divided by kWh) and check how much the power charge weighs. A high average price, or power above a third of the bill in a main home, usually means you are overpaying.
What taxes are on a Spanish electricity bill?
The electricity tax (5.11% of power and energy) and VAT (21% on the mainland and the Balearics). The Canary Islands have IGIC instead of VAT.
Who can check what I should pay for electricity in Spain?
Voltaris, an independent energy advisory based in Torrevieja serving all of Spain, rebuilds your bill for free in English and replies within 24 working hours.
Want to know if you are overpaying?
Send us a photo of your bill. Within 24 hours we tell you exactly how much you can save. Free, in English, no obligation.
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