Extension of the Social Bonus and disconnection ban for vulnerable customers: what is staying in place and until when

2/ Current situation of the social bonus

The social bonus still exists, but the previous regulations apply.

a) Applicable discounts

As the exceptional measures were not extended, the social bonus discounts revert to the standard percentages:

· 35% for vulnerable consumers
· 50% for severely vulnerable consumers

b) Minimum vital supply (MVS)

With the end of the general ban on supply disconnections associated with the exceptional measures, the minimum vital supply mechanism is activated as an alternative to disconnection for non-payment.

Specifically:

· When a household benefiting from the social bonus does not pay its bill within the established period of 4 months, instead of the supply being cut off, an additional period of 6 months of electricity supply is granted, with a maximum contracted power of 3.5 kW.

This additional period aims to give the customer more time to regularise their situation, pay off the debt, or turn to social services for support.

c) Enhanced protection for vulnerable groups

In addition to the minimum vital supply, the regulations maintain the prohibition on interrupting supply for non-payment in certain cases.

Specifically, supply cannot be cut off to households benefiting from the social bonus where any of the following situations apply and are certified by social services:

· At least one child under 16 years of age
· A person with a disability equal to or greater than 33%
· A person with dependency level II or III

Summary

The Royal Decree-Law approved on 5 February was not ratified by the Congress in the vote held on 26 February, and therefore ceased to be in force on that same day, with the previous regulations coming back into effect.

This means that the exceptional measures of the energy-related social shield have not been extended, although the social bonus still exists and the previous regulations apply, with discounts of 35% for vulnerable consumers and 50% for severely vulnerable consumers.

In the event of non-payment, there is no immediate disconnection of supply; instead, the minimum vital supply mechanism applies, guaranteeing up to 10 months of electricity supply (4 initial months plus 6 additional months) with a maximum contracted power of 3.5 kW. Enhanced protection also remains in place for households benefiting from the social bonus that include children under 16, persons with disabilities ≥33%, or persons with dependency level II or III.