Electricity price in Spain today: how to tell if it is cheap or expensive
The price of electricity in Spain is not fixed — it depends on your tariff and when you use it. If you live in Spain, this may come as a surprise, since in many parts of the world electricity has a stable price that barely changes. This guide explains how it works, how to tell whether electricity is cheap or expensive today, and what you can do right now to pay less.
What are the cheapest and most expensive hours to use electricity today?
Average price for the day
0,1383
€/kWh
Lowest price of the day
15-16h
0,0463 €/kWh
Highest price of the day
21-22h
0,2787 €/kWh
*Prices shown correspond to the regulated tariff (PVPC). If you are on a fixed-price contract in the free market, your bill is not affected by market fluctuations.
The Selectra Traffic Light: is electricity cheap or expensive today?
The Selectra Traffic Light translates today's price into a colour so you can decide what to do at a glance, without needing to interpret numbers or understand the electricity market.
If you are on the PVPC, the colour tells you directly whether today is a good day to run your high-consumption appliances. If you are on a fixed-price free market tariff, you can use it to compare whether the price you are paying is above or below the market rate, and decide whether it is worth switching tariff.
Price of electricity per hour for today (30 de Abril)
Why does the price of electricity change every hour in Spain?
In Spain, electricity can have a fixed or variable price depending on your contract. If you are on the regulated PVPC tariff, the market sets a different price for each hour of the day based on supply and demand. If you are on a fixed-price contract in the free market, you pay the same amount regardless of the time of day.
If you are already familiar with variable-price systems, such as those in Germany, the United Kingdom, or the Nordic countries, the logic will feel familiar. Electricity prices in Spain tend to be notably lower than in northern and central Europe. If you come from a country with a fixed price, such as the United States or Australia, or if you simply prefer not to worry about when you use electricity, you can also take out a fixed-price tariff in the free market.
The key point is always the same: if you are on the PVPC, knowing when to use electricity can make a real difference to your monthly bill.
PVPC or free market: which tariff do you have?
Before checking the hourly price, you need to know whether it affects you directly. In Spain there are two types of contract, and not all customers see their price change every hour.
With the PVPC tariff (regulated tariff), the price changes every hour according to the market. When the price is low, you pay less, but you need to manage when you consume in order to benefit. The Selectra Traffic Light, a free tool explained further below, tells you at a glance when it is worth using your appliances.
With a fixed-price free market tariff, the price is locked in your contract for months or years. It does not matter whether the market goes up or down: you always pay the same price per kWh regardless of what happens in the market. Your bill will vary depending on how much you use, but not on when you use it. You do not need to monitor the daily price, but you also do not benefit from cheaper days. This is the option for those who prefer stability.
How do I know which tariff I have? Check your most recent bill.
If it shows "PVPC" or "Precio Voluntario para el Pequeño Consumidor", you are on the regulated tariff.
If it shows a company name with a fixed price, you are on the free market.
If you are not sure what you signed up for — which is very common when you have not been in Spain long — you are most likely on the free market. Call Selectra and ask directly: "Am I on PVPC or a fixed price?"
Fixed-price free market alternatives cheaper than the PVPC this month
If you prefer a fixed price that does not depend on daily market fluctuations, these are some of the most competitive tariffs currently available on the market, with a price per kWh below the average PVPC price this month. Keep in mind that the cheapest tariff on paper is not always the best fit for your home — the right option depends on your consumption habits, contracted power, and other factors specific to your household. If you want to make sure you are choosing the tariff that actually saves you the most, our advisors can analyse your specific situation free of charge.
Bill estimation based on a consumption of 270 kWh/month, contracted power of 4 kW including taxes.
To make sure you have the best price for your consumption, we recommend using our electricity comparison tool or speaking with one of our energy advisors.
Free personalised energy advice
How does the electricity price affect your daily life if you are on the PVPC?
The price of electricity is not just a number on a screen. It depends on when you plug things in. Here are some real-life situations to help you understand it.
If you work from home, the impact on your bill depends on which appliances you have running. A computer uses very little power — that is not the problem. What can make a real difference is electric heating, air conditioning, or a high-consumption appliance. The good news is that there are several cheap periods throughout the day, not just in the early hours of the morning. Check the traffic light to identify when it makes sense to switch things on and when it is better to wait.
If you put the washing machine or dishwasher on when you get home from work, this is the most common mistake. 8pm is one of the most expensive hours of the day in Spain. Check the traffic light to identify the cheapest window and programme your washing machine for that time, provided your building allows it. If you cannot programme it, weekends and national public holidays are off-peak for a full 24 hours — the cheapest time of all. They are the ideal moment to tackle all your household chores.
If you have an electric car, charging outside peak hours tends to be cheaper. Check the traffic light to identify the most economical window of the day.
If you have air conditioning, the hottest hours of the day tend to be the most expensive too, because everyone in the country is using it at the same time. You cannot always avoid it, but checking the traffic light can help you identify moments in the day when the cost drops, so you can cool the house down a little before the heat peaks.
Four steps to pay less from today
- Find out which tariff you have: Check your bill and look for "PVPC". If you cannot find it or you are unsure, call your supplier. Knowing this is the starting point for everything else.
- Check the traffic light every morning if you are on the PVPC: Green: make the most of the day and run your high-consumption appliances. Red: minimise what you can and wait until tomorrow for tasks that are not urgent. You do not need to understand the electricity market to make good decisions — the colour does it for you.
- If you are on the PVPC, programme your appliances for the cheaper hours: washing machine, dishwasher, electric car charger — run them outside peak hours. Check the traffic light to identify the cheapest windows of the day and programme your appliances accordingly, provided your building allows it. Most modern appliances have a timer: set it once and forget about it.
- Choose the tariff that suits you best: If you can control when you use electricity, the PVPC may be the most cost-effective option. If you prefer stability and do not want to worry about the time of day, a fixed-price contract in the free market is your best alternative. Use our comparison tool to find the tariff that best fits your profile and consumption.
