Electricity, water, gas, internet and household costs in Spain

The biggest companies are Iberdrola, Endesa, Naturgy and Repsol, and there are smaller companies and cooperatives.

• You choose between the fixed price (precio fijo) which protects you from fluctuation, the variable free tariff, and the regulated price PVPC that varies by hours of the day.
• Compare prices through the official government comparator (CNMC), and note the contracted power (potencia) since it affects the fixed part of the bill, and time-of-use tariffs (discriminación horaria) which lower the price at night and at weekends.
• To contract you need an NIE, the flat's address and the CUPS number (supply point code) found on a previous bill, and a bank account.
• The company contacts you and records the information.
• Do not sign by phone with salespeople who visit your door without comparing.

When moving you must transfer the electricity, gas and water contract to your name (cambio de titularidad) by contacting the company with the CUPS number and the meter reading.

• Record the meter readings on takeover and photograph them.
• Bills are usually issued monthly or every two months, and paid by direct debit (domiciliación), and include the fixed part, consumption and taxes (the special electricity tax and value-added tax IVA depending on the period).
• Read the bill and check the reading is correct, and report any mistake.
• For smart meters the reading is sent automatically.
• If you do not make the transfer the subscription remains in the previous tenant's name which may stop the service or cause problems.
• Keep bills since they are required as proof of address in some procedures.

Water is supplied through local or municipal companies (Canal de Isabel II in Madrid and Aigües de Barcelona), and the bill is calculated by consumption with sewerage and waste charges and may arrive every two or three months.

• Natural gas (Nedgia) is used in cities, or gas in cylinders (butano) in many places, and the cylinder is bought from the distributor and paid for directly, and may have a regulated price.
• Gas appliances must be inspected periodically (revisión de gas) every five years with a certificate, which is the responsibility of the owner or tenant according to the contract.
• The waste charge (tasa de basuras) is imposed by the town hall on the dwelling.
• Waste is separated into containers of different colours: yellow for plastic, blue for paper, green for glass and brown for organic.

The best-known internet and phone providers are Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, MásMóvil, Yoigo and Digi, and there are bundled packages (fibre, mobile and TV) at prices from twenty to sixty euros a month.

• Read the terms of the commitment period (permanencia) and the early cancellation penalty, and check fibre coverage at your address.
• Home insurance (seguro de hogar) is optional for the tenant but useful to cover contents and liability, and the owner may require it. For vulnerable households the social bonus (bono social) allows a discount on the electricity and gas bill under income and household conditions, and protects from disconnection.
• Ask your town hall's social services about additional bill aid.
• And you can choose a provider without commitment if you do not know how long you will stay.

To lower the bill use high-consumption appliances (washing machine and dryer) in cheap hours, lower the heating by a degree or two, use LED bulbs, switch off devices instead of standby, and improve insulation with thick curtains.

• Review the contracted power if it is higher than you need.
• And compare offers once a year.
• If you cannot pay a bill contact the company at once and ask for a payment plan, since the supply may be cut after notice and legal periods.
• And do not ignore bills because debts accumulate.
• Ask for help from social services or the consumer office (OMIC), and check your eligibility for the social bonus.
• And tell the company of any error in the bill in writing, and you have the right to complain to the competent bodies.

What is the CUPS number?