Did you know that you can save money on your shared flat electricity bills? In this article we tell you everything you need to know.

Easy-to-pay bills 

Over the last few days there has been a big debate in Spain about the price of electricity. It seems that, as is the case in other European countries, bills are on the rise. Therefore, managing the cost of electricity can be hard. This is why it is very useful to share a flat, as this way we can lower our expenses and make everything more affordable.

If your shared flat is paying the price of electricity through the PVPC rate (Voluntary Price for Small Consumers), we can achieve significant savings by concentrating our consumption during the cheapest hours. This tariff is regulated by the Spanish Government and sets a fixed price based on the result of the wholesale electricity market.
Moreover, there have been introduced three time slots with different prices for electricity between ten o'clock at night and ten o'clock in the morning, as well as between two o'clock and six o'clock in the afternoon.

If you and your colleagues do not want to or cannot concentrate your consumption, you can use an electricity comparator, such as Companias-de-luz.com, to find the cheapest rate among the free market offers with a fixed price for electricity throughout the day. If you want more information about this, you can consult the following link: https://www.companias-de-luz.com/precio-de-la-luz/

How to save on electricity?

There are many things we can do to save energy in our shared flat, such as those offered by Companias-de-luz.com :

• Set the water heater to automatically switch on only during the hours you use hot water.
• Adapt the temperature of the air conditioner to the weather conditions outside. For example, in summer, the temperature should not be lowered below 24°C.
• Do not open the oven while cooking, because a lot of the heat is lost.
• Think about what you want to take before opening the fridge, so that the door remains open for as little time as possible and to keep it cool.
• Try to naturally dry your hair with a towel before using the hairdryer or hair straightener. These appliances consume a lot of energy.

Why are electricity costs rising so much?

There are many reasons explaining this. In Spain specifically, the second quarter of the year usually comes with a drop in the price of electricity, as the reserves of water are filled by the rains of the season and there is a huge supply of cheaper hydroelectric energy.
In 2020, due to global warming, these reserves were mostly dried. This has meant that energy demand has had to be covered by more expensive energy sources, such as natural gas, which has also increased in price. 

Meanwhile, the consumer association Facua has asked the CNMC (National Commission for Markets and Competition) to investigate electricity companies for a possible manipulation of prices. The consumer association recalls that there have been previous convictions for shutting down power plants so that the wholesale market would have to cover demand with more expensive energy.

If you want more tips on how to save energy in your home you can read this article. You not only will save money on your bills, but you will also contribute to the fight against climate change.