The, which entered into force this month. The new system also allows contracting two types of powers for the same consumer. A possibility that facilitates more efficient energy consumption and, therefore, more economical. In addition, until May 2022, consumers have the possibility of making up to two power changes for free.
What is the contracted power
It is the number of kilowatts (kW) that can be running simultaneously. The more power you have contracted, the more electrical devices you can turn on at the same time. However, more will be paid each month, since your electricity bill is divided into consumption (which you can control by being more efficient) and power (which is a fixed cost and increases according to the kW that you have contracted).
Two free changes of the contracted power
The National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC) explains that the consumer will be able to modify the contracted powers twice in the period between June 1, 2021 and May 31, 2022. A possibility that is worth taking advantage of, since users can only lower the power once a year and it has a cost that exceeds 10 euros. Instead, you have to pay just over 60 euros for each kWh increase if you want to go up.
In addition, the agency explains that most consumers have more contracted power than is needed. Thus, the possibility of making these free changes must be taken into account, because if you want to save money, the objective should be to have the least contracted power, as long as it does not affect day-to-day life. If the contract can be lowered, the fixed term of the invoice will be lower.
The possibility of having two contracted powers
The second of the novelties of the new electricity bill is related to the previous one. The CNMV also says that since the entry into force of the new system, two powers can be contracted. In this case, the power would be billed based on two time periods: off-peak power (cheaper), from 24 at night to 8 in the morning, and all weekend hours and national holidays; and the peak power (more expensive), from 8 in the morning to 12 at night. Specifically, the price for contracted power in the off-peak period is 95% lower than in the peak period.
Having two contracted powers would make it possible to further adjust the use of a consumer’s electricity to areas where consumption and power is cheaper. Thus, the CNMV recommends, for example, hiring a lower power for the most expensive hours and a higher one for the cheapest. Thus, putting the washing machine, the iron, the oven or charging the electric car during the weekend will allow saving not only because electricity is cheaper, but also because the contracted power is also cheaper.
An example of savings on the bill with two contracted powers
Electric car charging is a good example. The differentiation of power by period makes it possible to contract 0 kW at the peak (period 1), which allows the contracting of a second supply point at low cost, when it is not possible to charge at the usual address. Charging the vehicle at night has an estimated cost of tolls and charges of 24 euros per year. The difference between charging the electric vehicle at any time of the day or at night exceeds 300 euros per year.