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When does electricity usage spike in Spain — and what does TV have to do with it?
If you've ever wondered, yes — electricity usage in Spain has its own prime time, peaking between 6pm and 10pm. During this window, millions of households turn on their cooker, heating, and TVs all at once; often right as hit shows like MasterChef are about to start. If you are on a time-of-use tariff and cannot — or do not want to — change your routines, there is an alternative: always paying the same price, at any time of day.
Understanding the so-called peak hours of electricity consumption is key to interpreting how daily demand is structured and why small, repeated routines end up having a much larger impact on your electricity bill than it seems.
The peak that drives the grid and probably affects you without you knowing
In Spain, electricity use is not the same throughout the day. According to data from Red Eléctrica de España (REE), the period of highest demand occurs between 6pm and 10pm on weekdays. The main reason is social: it is the time when most of the population returns home, turns on the heating or air conditioning, prepares dinner, and switches on the TV or computers.
Being the period with the highest demand, it is also when the cost on a time-of-use tariff reaches its maximum, with peak prices sitting at around €0.225152/kWh. The solution to avoiding high prices is not to change your habits, but to choose a tariff where the time of day does not matter.
While a time-of-use tariff divides your day into peak, mid-peak, and off-peak periods, by switching to a stable-price plan, the cost per kWh remains the same 24 hours a day. Therefore, it allows you to turn on whatever you need, whenever you need it, without watching the clock. Our Endesa tariff comparator is always at your fingertips to help you save on your electricity bill.
Why a time-of-use tariff doesn't suit every household
Time-of-use pricing can be an excellent ally for saving money, but only if you can shift your usage to weekends or overnight. There are several profiles for whom this plan is not an advantage, but an unavoidable extra cost:
- People working from home: they use their equipment and climate control right in the middle of peak hours, especially in the morning (from 10am to 2pm).
- Pensioners and carers: people who stay at home during the day and need to use the cooker, lighting, and heating during the central hours.
- Families with young children: bath time and dinner occur like clockwork during the most expensive period (from 6pm to 10pm).
For these households, a time-of-use tariff would mean fewer savings on their bill. It is not a bad tariff; it is simply a product designed for a different consumption profile that does not fit everyone's reality.
What is a fixed-price tariff and how will it affect your bill?
A stable-price tariff, such as Endesa's Fija 24 h Tariff, is one where the price per kWh is the same no matter the time or day of the week. Under this model, there are no peak, mid-peak, or off-peak periods.
Your bill varies solely based on the amount of electricity you use, not the time you consume it. Understanding how a fixed-price tariff works and how it affects your bill is important, as it can provide greater security and predictability.
Who benefits from a fixed tariff? The profile that saves the most with it
Choosing the best tariff depends on knowing your habits and how your household's electricity consumption is distributed throughout the week. As a general rule:
- A stable tariff is ideal for remote workers, retirees, families who are home during the day, or anyone who simply doesn't want to be watching the clock every time they cook or put a wash on.
- A time-of-use tariff is perfect for people who work away from home all day, do not use electric heating, and can programme their appliances to run after midnight or during the weekend.
If you still have doubts, let's look at a brief estimate of what the actual cost would have been for an average household.
How much is the difference between a fixed tariff and a time-of-use tariff if you consume during peak hours?
Let's turn the theory into real numbers to help you make your decision. Imagine an average household that consumes 250 kWh per month, but, due to its lifestyle, uses 60% of that energy during peak hours (150 kWh).
1. With a time-of-use tariff (Luz 3 Periodos tariff):
- Peak consumption (150 kWh at €0.225152/kWh): €33.77.
- Mid-peak consumption (50 kWh at €0.147959/kWh): €7.40.
- Off-peak consumption (50 kWh at €0.114705/kWh): €5.74.
- Total consumption: €46.91*.
2. With a fixed tariff (Luz Fija 24 h tariff):
- Total consumption (250 kWh at a stable price of €0.126600/kWh): €31.65*.
For this hypothetical profile, the fixed tariff represents savings of around €15 a month. Therefore, knowing your usage distribution is key to finding the tariff that best fits your habits without changing your way of life.
*Results obtained based on the price of our Luz 3 Periodos tariff and Luz Fija 24 h tariff as of 6 May 2026. Includes current discounts.
With the VAT set to rise in July, how will it affect your energy tariff?
In March 2026, the Government confirmed a cut in VAT to 10% in response to the energy crisis. However, the measure is initially scheduled to remain in effect until 30 June. This is why it's vital to prepare and understand the impact on your specific tariff.
- With a fixed tariff: even if the VAT changes, the base price of your energy remains the same by contract. Therefore, the impact of the VAT increase in July is more predictable, as you are not affected by market volatility.
- With the PVPC (regulated tariff): you are exposed to VAT increasing right in a month of intense heat, when the price of energy also tends to climb due to air conditioning demand.
FAQ
Does a fixed electricity tariff protect against market increases?
Yes, the price per kWh remains unchanged during the agreed period, protecting you from international tensions or renewable energy shortages that inflate the wholesale market.
Which tariff is best for me if I work from home and am in the house all day?
A fixed tariff is usually the most cost-effective. When working from home, you inevitably consume energy during peak and mid-peak price periods, so a stable tariff saves you from paying the surcharges of the time-of-use system.
Can I switch back to a time-of-use tariff if I am not convinced by the fixed one?
Yes. No-contract tariffs allow you to switch at any time. The switch is free of charge and is applied to the next billing cycle.
Is a fixed tariff also called a 'stable tariff' or 'stable price'?
Yes. They are different names for the same concept: a constant kWh price 24 hours a day, with no time slots that make certain periods more expensive.
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You don't need to adapt to Endesa's tariffs because they adapt to you. If you go to our catalogue you can compare the different tariffs for yourself. Or if you prefer, you can answer a few questions and we will take care of comparing all the different electricity and gas tariffs and then make a customised recommendation.
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You don't need to adapt to Endesa's tariffs because they adapt to you. If you go to our catalogue you can compare the different tariffs for yourself. Or if you prefer, you can answer a few questions and we will take care of comparing all the different electricity and gas tariffs and then make a customised recommendation.
Comparison of Electricity and Gas Tariffs
You don't need to adapt to Endesa's tariffs because they adapt to you. If you go to our catalogue you can compare the different tariffs for yourself. Or if you prefer, you can answer a few questions and we will take care of comparing all the different electricity and gas tariffs and then make a customised recommendation.
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