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Sometimes, when trying to explain something, there’s a risk of getting tangled up in a long introduction that misses the point. For example, when explaining the electricity bill. First question: does anyone really understand it?
The structure of your electricity bill
In the ‘Your bill details’ section, you’ll find the first essential information: the billing period you’re being charged for, when the bill was issued, and when it will be charged to your account.
You’ll also see a code that identifies that specific bill (Invoice no.) and another that refers to your electricity contract (Reference). If you ever need to handle any administrative tasks, it’s helpful to have these details at hand.
You will also find the SPUC code —an alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies your supply point. It’s like the ID number of your installation, so it will always remain the same even if you switch energy retailers. Knowing where to find it is extremely useful for any request, activation, cancellation, or rate change.
The next section you’ll see is ‘Bill summary,’ where the key items you are being charged for appear.
Sections of your electricity bill explained step-by-step
Contracted power
This is the fixed part of your bill, measured in kW. It represents a sort of monthly fee you pay for being connected to the electricity grid. It remains the same every month unless you decide to increase or decrease it.
The higher your contracted power, the more appliances you can run simultaneously —but the more you’ll pay. If it’s too low, your breakers may trip when you try using the washing machine and oven at the same time. Before making any changes, we recommend reading this article on electrical power.
Most homes have between 3.3 and 4.6 kW of power. If you have more than 10 kW, you cannot sign up for the regulated rate (VPSC); you can only choose tariffs from the free market.
Your power charges are calculated easily: multiply the contracted power (kW) by the price of the power term (€/kW/day) and by the number of days in the billing period. The result is a fixed charge you pay for having that capacity available, regardless of how much electricity you use.
Under the Last Resort Rate (LRR), the price is regulated by law, meaning it’s the same for all consumers under this tariff. In the free market, retailers set their own power-term price as part of their contract conditions, so it may vary depending on your offer.
This is why reviewing your contract is important: in LRR the cost is set by law, while in the free market it’s useful to compare tariffs to ensure your contracted power fits your needs and that you’re paying a competitive price.
In practice, the usual formula is:
Contracted power × Power-term price × Days billed + Applicable taxes
Therefore, adjusting your contracted power to your actual needs is key to avoiding unnecessary costs.
“Don’t reduce your contracted power unless you’re sure it will be enough for your home.”
Energy consumption
If power is the fixed fee, this is the variable part. The more electricity you use, the more you pay. And if you don’t consume anything because you’re away? Then you don’t pay for consumption… Although keep in mind that an empty home can still use energy (your fridge or devices in standby mode), unless you fully power everything off.
Electricity consumption is measured in kWh. You’ll find the details in the ‘Electricity consumption information’ section, but we recommend checking it online. In your Customer Area, you can see how many kWh you consume every hour of every day.
Adjusting power is tricky, but you can do wonders with your consumption —like choosing a tariff that fits your routine.
Taxes and other charges
While power and consumption are the most important parts, there are other charges that appear every month:
Electricity tax: a special 5.11% tax applied to your power and consumption. It’s collected by the State to support alternative energy sources.
Meter rental: the meter belongs to the distributor, which rents it to you for a small monthly fee (between €0.50 and €1.15 depending on your case).
VAT: 21% applies to the entire bill. But can VAT be applied to something already taxed? The answer is yes—VAT law permits this in cases like the special tax on electricity.
“Your electricity bill is made up of the fixed term (power), the variable term (consumption) and taxes.”
Contract and account holder information
At the top of the bill, you’ll find essential details: contract holder, supply point address, billing period, invoice number, and contract reference. You’ll need this information for any request or claim, which you can also find in your Customer Area.
Contracted tariff
Your contracted tariff determines the price applied to each kWh you consume, so it’s important to identify it in your bill. You’ll find it in the ‘Contract details’ section under ‘Contracted product,’ where the exact name of your tariff appears.
Regulated taxes and grid charges
In addition to power and energy, the bill includes charges regulated by current legislation, such as the special electricity tax, VAT, and meter rental (if applicable). These items are set by the government and form part of the total bill.
Additional services and discounts
Optional services (maintenance, insurance, digital services…) and any promotional discounts appear broken down on the bill. It’s a good idea to check them to ensure they’re applied correctly and to avoid unexpected charges.
Total amount due and consumption summary
The final summary shows the total amount to pay and a breakdown of consumption by periods and dates —useful for comparing month to month, spotting spikes or anomalies, and understanding how your energy use is distributed.
Tips for understanding and optimising your bill
Some simple, easy-to-apply tips:
- Review your hourly consumption in your Customer Area to identify peak usage times and adjust your habits accordingly.
- Adjust your contracted power to match your needs.
- Consider time-of-use electricity tariffs if your routine allows it.
- Replace old appliances with more efficient ones to reduce the variable part of your bill.
FAQs about your bill
Why does the amount change even if I consume the same?
Several factors can cause variations: tariff changes, tax adjustments, differences in the billing period, or multiple months being billed at once. So, it’s important to always check the kWh billed and the billing dates to identify the cause —and request clarification if needed.
Where can I see the price per kWh?
The price per kWh is listed in the ‘Contracted product’ section and in the consumption breakdown in your bill. You can also check it in your Customer Area, where your active tariff and its conditions appear.
If you want to check the daily kWh price, you can visit: Daily electricity price by the hour.
Can I have different contracted power levels (peak and off-peak)?
Contracted power is the maximum capacity your installation can handle, expressed in kW, and it appears as a single value for each supply point.
Time-of-use rates apply different kWh prices by time period (peak, shoulder, and off-peak) to encourage consumption outside peak demand hours. However, they do not split contracted power into different values; your power remains the same at all times.
If you need to handle occasional higher loads at specific hours, there are technical and commercial alternatives: increasing your power temporarily or permanently, shifting appliance use to off-peak hours, or installing demand-management solutions that avoid overloading your installation.
How do I know if my bill is estimated or actual?
The bill explicitly states whether the reading used is actual or estimated —usually in the meter readings or consumption section.
In your Customer Area, you can check your reading history and verify whether the billed figure corresponds to a meter reading or an estimate based on past consumption.
If you spot a significant discrepancy, you can request an actual reading from the distributor or ask for a meter verification. When the reading is corrected, the next bill is usually adjusted.
Keeping regular track of your readings and taking photos of your meter on key dates helps with claims and early detection of errors.
The influence of your consumption habits on your bill
Main residence: greater weight of the energy-consumption cost
In homes used year-round, the variable component (kWh consumed) is usually the most significant part of the bill. Shifting usage to off-peak hours, using more efficient appliances, and optimising heating and hot water systems can directly impact your bill. Choosing a time-of-use tariff tailored to your routine can also reduce your monthly costs.
Energy consumption (EC) typically accounts for 65–75% of the bill, while the power term (PT) represents 25–35%.
Second home: greater weight of the contracted-power cost
In second homes or properties used only occasionally, the contracted power fee can make up a significant portion of the bill, since actual consumption is low. In these cases, reviewing and reducing contracted power to match real usage is one of the most effective ways to save. If you only use the property at certain times of year, consider options like temporarily suspending the supply or services that allow you to manage power capacity according to your needs.
With lower consumption, the power term (PT) may represent 55–65% of the bill, while energy consumption (EC) drops to 35–45%.
If you’d like us to review your specific case and recommend the most suitable power level or tariff, our team of energy advisers can help you compare options and calculate potential savings based on your habits.
What if you don’t agree with your bill?
Now that you fully understand how your bill is calculated, it’s possible that something still doesn’t look right. And if you feel you’ve been charged more than you should, it’s normal to feel frustrated.
Don’t worry! We’ve identified four common reasons that usually explain most of these situations:
- Seasonal consumption peaks:in summer, they’re often due to air conditioning; in winter, to electric heating. Many circumstances can increase consumption for a few days or weeks. If you think your bill is too high, start by checking the number of kWh you’re being billed for. From your Customer Area, you can easily compare it with previous months. If you haven’t done anything that would explain higher consumption and suspect a meter issue, complete the Endesa contact form. Then, select ‘Complaint,’ category ‘Measuring equipment or meter,’ and subject ‘Fault in measuring equipment or meter.’ We’ll respond within 21 business days.
At Endesa, we offer the best solutions, such as Tu Casa 50 or Endesa Única. These tariffs are designed to smooth out or even eliminate seasonal peaks in your bill, giving you more predictability and stability in your energy costs. Indeed, their goal is to turn your consumption into year-round peace of mind and savings! - Several months billed at once: sometimes there are valid reasons why multiple months are billed together. You’re not paying more —rather, you were paying less in previous bills, and now the amount is being adjusted. Check your bill to see the kWh you’re being charged for and the corresponding date range. If several months are included, you can request to split the payment into instalments. Go to the Endesa form and choose ‘Request,’ category ‘Payments to Endesa,’ and subject ‘Request for payment extension/instalment.’
- Excess contracted power: this is the fixed charge in your bill, so you pay it every month. It’s important to ensure it fits your needs. If you’ve requested a power change and it still doesn’t appear in your bill, it may be because the billing cycle had already closed when you requested it. It will then appear in your next bill.
Incorrect tariff or discount application? Check the ‘Contracts’ section of your Customer Area. There you can see your active tariffs, contracted services, and applied discounts.
A video that explains it in just 90 seconds
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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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