Discover our bright new money-saving ideas to avoid paying too much in your next electricity bill

The changes made to Spain’s electricity billing system this year call for a whole new approach to how and when we use electricity. With new guidelines and new peak, off-peak and standard rates, it is more important than ever to use electricity as best and responsibly as we can. If you want to start making savings today but are not sure how, read on for our top tips on how to avoid unwelcome surprises in your next electricity bill.

Our top tips for making savings on your electricity bill:

1. Change your contracted power

The Spanish Markets and Competition Commission (Comisión Nacional de Mercados y Competencia (CNMC)) has given consumers until 31 May 2022 to change the contracted power in their homes and businesses. According to the organization, the reasoning behind this is that the vast majority of people have more electrical power contracted than they actually need.

Checking and altering your service capacity offers consumers direct savings in their electricity bill – a win-win provided it doesn’t affect your day-to-day life around the home or in your business.

2. Contract two service capacities

The CNMC has also advised that consumers can have two contracted powers so that their consumption is charged on the basis of whether they have selected peak, off-peak, or standard rate times in their contract. Consumers can take advantage of the new system by increasing their electricity consumption during the new cheaper times of day – such as off-peak times – and avoid more expensive peak times.

3. Select the best provider

All consumers have a wealth of price comparison websites at their fingertips. These sites allow people to compare their consumption and the offers available and decide which is best-suited to them.

At the end of last August, a QR code that allows customers to directly access the CNMC’s price comparison website was introduced in bills with a contracted power of less than 15 kW. This allows consumers to check their consumption and crosscheck what they are getting charged without any extra hassle.

4. Shift electricity consumption to cheaper times of the day

The most talked-about part of this change is the introduction of the peak, off-peak and standard rates. These different rates for different times of the day have been introduced in a bid to provide consumers with energy savings and to:

• encourage people to shift their electricity consumption to times of day when demand is lower and thereby avoid unnecessary investments in the electricity grid;
• facilitate charging electric vehicles;
• drive electricity consumption during previously unpopular times of day; and
• increase consumption of renewable electricity and energies and facilitate the transition to a low-emission economy.

In addition, a property’s orientation and location are two other factors that affect consumption. Knowing whether a property is north, south, east or west-facing is key for determining how many hours of natural light a home gets and for avoiding unnecessary use of lighting.

Our properties in Conde Orgaz  are located in private residential developments where generous courtyards and gardens ensure all rooms are flooded with natural light.

5. Use energy wisely

Shifting your electricity consumption to cheaper times of day is not enough in itself; to keep a lid on costs you also need to make a few simple changes in how you use household appliances.

• Use energy-efficient equipment: replacing old appliances with new ones allows you to make savings on your bill. From LED bulbs to energy certified appliances, it all adds up.

Our properties are refurbished and fitted with energy certified electrical appliances, just like this house in Madrid.

• Beware of the so-called “phantom load”: appliances that are on standby are also quietly guzzling away electricity. Even though it may look like they’re switched off, they are still connected to the grid and using power.
• Use Eco Mode: dishwashers, washing machines and water heaters are some of the household appliances that offer this option. The eco programme consumes less thanks to shorter cycles, optimal use of water, both in terms of how water is used and the water pressure among other energy-saving features.
• Only use appliances with full loads: closely related to the eco mode tip – only putting on your washing machine or dishwasher when you have a full load is another way of saving energy.
• Keep your household appliances well-serviced: this helps prolong their useful life and improves how well they work.

6. Give solar self-consumption a try

As well as the recent hike in electricity prices, a programme of support measures to help finance self-consumption equipment has also been introduced. This refers to energy storage equipment and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems that use renewable energies.

Although committing to clean energies involves a hefty investment at first, it later results in sizeable savings of up to 50% on your electricity bill, not to mention the considerable tax benefits. Users that install solar panels, for instance, can benefit from deductions in individual income tax and council tax and enjoy various discounts.

Are you ready to give it a go? By following this simple advice, you can make significant savings on your electricity bill and put all your energy into enjoying your new home.

At Testa,  we have just the house you’re looking for, our homes are refurbished and fully-fitted with energy-certified electrical appliances, so you don’t have to worry about a thing.

Get in touch with us today and together we’ll find the perfect home for you.