Energy bills · Explainer
Electricity prices in Portugal explained (2026): your bill, kVA and regulated vs free market
Portuguese electricity bills look confusing at first: potência contratada, termo fixo, vazio, ERSE, E-REDES… This guide explains each part and shows where the savings are.
Key takeaways
- Your bill = a daily fixed charge for contracted power (kVA) + a price per kWh + taxes and levies.
- Regulated-market simple tariff: about €0.171/kWh before VAT (October 2026); the average household price in 2026 is around €0.198/kWh.
- Anyone in low voltage up to 41.4 kVA can join the regulated tariff (or an equivalent offer); it is planned to last until the end of 2027.
- Regulated isn't automatically cheapest: compare offers with the ERSE simulator once a year.
Who's who
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| ERSE | The energy regulator: sets regulated tariffs and network charges, runs the official price simulator. |
| E-REDES | The distribution grid operator: meters, connections, outages, contracted-power changes. |
| Comercializador | Your supplier (EDP, Endesa, Galp, Goldenergy, Iberdrola, Repsol and others) — the company that bills you. |
| SU Eletricidade | The supplier of last resort on the mainland, which sells the regulated tariff. |
The parts of your bill
- Potência contratada (kVA) — the maximum power you can draw at once, charged per day whether you use it or not. Common steps are 3.45, 4.6, 5.75, 6.9 and 10.35 kVA.
- Energia (kWh) — what you consume, at a single price (simples) or different prices by time of day (bi-horário, tri-horário).
- Taxes and levies — VAT, the audiovisual contribution and smaller charges.
Regulated market vs free market
Most households (about 5.8 million) are on the free market; around 780,000 remain on the regulated tariff, whose prices ERSE sets. The regulated tariff has been extended until 31 December 2027, and any low-voltage customer with up to 41.4 kVA can join it — even after having moved to the free market.
| Option | Price per kWh |
|---|---|
| Simples | €0.1711 |
| Bi-horário | €0.2045 outside off-peak / €0.1143 off-peak (vazio) |
| Tri-horário | €0.2553 peak / €0.1747 mid / €0.1143 off-peak |
On 1 October 2026 ERSE raised the regulated energy tariff by €0.005/kWh, about +2.7% on a typical monthly bill, bringing the 2026 increase to 1.7% overall. Free-market customers are not automatically affected — their price depends on their own contract.
What households typically pay
| Household (ERSE reference) | Regulated (per year) | Cheapest free-market offer (per year) |
|---|---|---|
| Couple, 3.45 kVA, 1,900 kWh | ≈ €460 | ≈ €402 |
| Family, 6.9 kVA, 5,000 kWh | ≈ €1,189 | ≈ €1,018 (with a first-year discount) |
The median free-market offer was actually slightly more expensive than the regulated tariff for the family profile. Regulated isn't always cheapest, and neither is the free market — you have to compare.
Five ways to pay less
- Run the ERSE price simulator with your real consumption once a year and switch if it pays.
- Check whether a bi-horário tariff suits you — it does if you can move about 40% or more of use into off-peak hours.
- Right-size your contracted power (kVA).
- Measure what actually uses power — see energy monitoring with Home Assistant.
- Cover daytime use with solar, sized for self-consumption.
Frequently asked questions
What is the price of electricity per kWh in Portugal?
In October 2026 the regulated simple tariff is about €0.171/kWh before VAT; free-market offers vary, with typical prices around €0.13–0.24/kWh depending on the offer and discounts.
Can I go back to the regulated tariff?
Yes. Low-voltage customers up to 41.4 kVA can join the regulated tariff or an equivalent offer; it is planned to continue until the end of 2027.
Who do I call for a power cut?
E-REDES, the grid operator — not your supplier.
Sources
- Preço do kWh por fornecedor em 2026 — Literacia Financeira (ERSE data) (accessed 29 October 2026)
- Índice da eletricidade (outubro 2026) — Literacia Financeira (accessed 29 October 2026)
- Eletricidade vai aumentar 2,7% em outubro no mercado regulado — Renascença (accessed 29 October 2026)
- Tarifa regulada de eletricidade 2026 — Repsol Portugal (accessed 29 October 2026)
- Preço regulado da luz sobe 1% em 2026 — ECO (accessed 29 October 2026)