Electricity bill - Page 5

So post cold snap when prices should come back down will that be reflected in the bills of those in regulated contracts?

I agree  more solar panels in Spain would be fantastic for the climate, avoiding electricity generating from less climate friendly methods. In Cyprus we had solar panels for electricity  and for the hot water system, the latter needing a backup immersion system for a few weeks of winter.  The saving on electricity and lower cost for hot water were  substantial, but the Cypriot Government did not make it easy or offer any discounts for you to install panels for electricity. We were told by locals this was because the main electricity supplier was owned by the Government and was a very nice source of income. 

We were disappointed to discover its not that easy to go down the solar panel route in Spain, especially if you are on an urbanisation. 

With such a huge climate challenge for our World, the eco benefit to facilitate and promote solar panels in Countries like Spain (who have a large proportion of free sunshine throughout the majority of the year), would seem to be an obvious benefit. Of course the trade off is the economic loss of income and tax to the electric companies and Governments. I believe that sadly this conflict is often what deters sensible energy saving considerations, in sunshine abundant Countries. 

I understand a large quantity of electricity in Spain is generated via solar panel farms, notably further south. This is partially what the subsidy for eco power on one’s electric bill is for. I also understand, although I stand to be corrected, that the reason for the high taxes on bills are partly as a result of Eu loans needing to be repaid.

We, miles out in the campo, do not have gas, nor solar panels, but all our hot water and underfloor heating uses 2 x separate heat pumps/exchangers. These are very economical methods of using electricity and are fairly common across Europe and inNorth America and Canada. Admittedly they are drawing power from the supplier, but our bills are not astronomical - except during very cold periods when we run the underfloor heating fulltime. 

The majority of the bills here are various taxes and subsidies.

There are also lots of wind farms.

I am with Iberdrola and on their Stable Plan, and I don't appear to have had any increase.

Just like utilities in UK you need to check your tariff.

I was told that the government own Iberdrola, so they are not going to enforce or encourage builders to fit solar panels to new housing, or subsidise firms promoting green energy.

Hi

We are currently renting an apartment and have solar panels on block, smart meters fitted, there is only my husband & I living here... our last 2 electric bills were virtually €200 & €250 each month

I was certainly shocked... but readings were taken?? This cannot be normal?? 

It’s is a fairly new apartment - suggestions?? 

Thanks in advance for any advice

G 😊

Hi all. 

We too have a query about electricity and wonder if you could help please. 

We have a four bedroom villa with a pool - we are not residents and the villa has been unoccupied for the past 12 months.  Over this time our bill has averaged at around 63E per month. We are with Curenergia (Iberdrola group) and our potencia contratada is 8.8kw.  Everything is switched off except the pool pump which runs for 2 hours per day. Our neighbour (who is resident permanently) has monthly bills of 60-65E per month, and his pc is  5.5kw.  Any advice or guidance would be welcome.

Many thanks Liz

Hi

As tenants, do you have access to the actual bill, so you can see what your tariff is, and what your various charges are?

Steve

Hi Liz, We were also shocked by the charges for electricity when we were absent from our holiday home, when we first bought in 2015.
I suspect a large part of your current bill is the standing charge and VAT, these charges are much higher than in the UK and the charges are higher based on your KW specification. Looks like you KW spec is higher than your neighbours so it may explain the high charge. This is Iberdrola’s way of getting lots of Euros out of holiday home owners who they know won’t be in Spain, sometimes for many months, their exorbitant standing charge and high VAT 21% makes these charges seem high even though you are barely using any electricity. 

You can lower your KW spec but of course that means you have to be careful how many electric appliances you have on simultaneously. With a 4 bed villa you would need to chat to friends or neighbours before reducing it.if you can contact Iberdrola remotely it may be worth seeing if there is a lower tariff you could be on? 

Hope this helps a little.