Ultimately, while the TUR stands out for offering a regulated price, the free market provides alternatives with stable pricing and the option to bundle your utilities with promotions or extra services.

What the gas TUR is and how it works

We gave you a clue earlier about what the TUR stands for when it comes to gas: the Last Resort Tariff (Tarifa de Último Recurso). This is the regulated tariff, with maximum and minimum prices set by the Government.

To sign up for the TUR, you must use one of the authorised Last Resort Suppliers. The terms, conditions and prices of the TUR are exactly the same across all of these regulated suppliers. Currently, individual consumers with a supply pressure of 4 bar or less and an annual consumption of 50,000 kWh or less are eligible for this tariff. It is also available to residents' associations.

How often does the TUR price change?

According to the gas consumer guide published by the National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC), the TUR's unit rate is updated quarterly, coming into effect on the 1st of January, April, July, and October each year.

The same guide notes that this review takes place whenever the cost of raw materials fluctuates up or down by more than 2% compared to the previous quarter.

It is important not to confuse this system with the PVPC, which is the regulated electricity tariff. Unlike electricity, where the price changes day by day and hour by hour, the TUR gas price doesn't change every hour; it remains fixed for the entire contracted quarter.

How to find out if you are on TUR.1, TUR.2, or TUR.3

The Last Resort Tariff is divided into different tiers based on your annual gas consumption in kWh:

• TUR.1: consumption of 5,000 kWh/year or less. This is typical for homes that only use gas for hot water and cooking.
• TUR.2: consumption over 5,000 kWh/year and up to 15,000 kWh/year. Many homes with gas heating fall into this tier.
• TUR.3: consumption over 15,000 kWh/year and up to 50,000 kWh/year. This applies to homes with high gas usage.

To check which tier you are in, we recommend looking at your actual annual consumption in kWh on your latest bill or in your Customer Area.

What a free-market gas tariff offers

In the free gas market, suppliers have the freedom to design our own tariffs and contract conditions.

This market is aimed at users looking for a stable price to protect them from regulated market fluctuations, or those who prefer tailored solutions.

Within the free market, you can find gas tariffs with prices fixed for up to 2 years, such as Endesa's Gas tariff. What's more, the free market allows you to combine your electricity and gas bills to simplify your payments or access additional benefits and maintenance services. For instance, with Endesa's Luz 24h Online + Gas tariff, you get a stable price 24 hours a day, a 20% discount on your electricity and gas for a whole year, plus a direct €50 bonus just for signing up.

That is why, before signing up, it's important to review not just the advertised price, but the full terms and conditions of the offer.

A stable price does not mean a fixed bill

This is one of the biggest misconceptions among consumers.

When you sign up for a 'stable-price' tariff on the free market, what remains stable for the agreed period is your gas unit rate (price per kWh) and the standing charge. However, this doesn't mean your monthly bill will always be exactly the same.

Natural gas is billed based on the energy you actually use in your home. If winter hits and you have the heating on for hours at a time, you will consume more kWh, so the total amount on your bill will go up.

The price of your gas stays stable, but your bill will fluctuate depending on your monthly usage.

The 6 things you should compare before choosing a gas tariff

As we've mentioned, just looking at the headline energy price isn't enough.

If you are on the hunt for the best gas tariff, we recommend looking at these six factors together:

1. Your annual gas consumption: Your annual kWh usage is the baseline for any comparison. Don't make the mistake of using 'average home' estimates if you have your actual bills to hand. You will find your usage history on them, or you can check your cumulative annual consumption in your supplier's customer area. Knowing your real usage lets you see exactly which tier you fall into and how much weight your consumption will carry compared to the standing charge.
2. The standing charge: This is the fixed amount you pay every month simply for having an active gas supply in your home, even if you don't use a single kWh during that time. Its price is tied to your specific access tariff tier. As a general rule, the lower your consumption, the greater the relative impact of the standing charge.
3. The unit rate (price per kWh): This represents the cost of each kilowatt-hour of energy you use. It is the biggest factor influencing your bill if you have gas heating. However, you should never evaluate it in isolation. A tariff with a rock-bottom unit rate but a sky-high standing charge, or one that forces you to add extra services, could end up costing you much more over the year.
4. Price stability: In the free market, it is crucial to check how long the price is locked in for. Suppliers typically guarantee their prices for 12 or 24 months. Once this period ends, the company will update the tariff according to your renewal conditions. That is why you should always check what price will apply upon renewal and when it will happen. Conversely, on the TUR, the unit rate can automatically change every quarter.
5. Discounts and promotions: Here, you need to check which part of the bill the discount applies to, what the real price is before the promotion, how long it lasts, and what you will pay once the offer ends. An eye-catching discount doesn't necessarily guarantee the tariff will be cheaper over the entire contract period.
6. Additional services, tie-in periods, and other terms: Check if the offer you are looking at includes or forces you to sign up for extra services (like insurance or boiler maintenance). These services are added to your monthly bill and drive up the total cost. Also, check if the gas tariff has a tie-in period to avoid exit fees if you decide to switch later on.

How to find out which gas tariff is actually cheapest for you

If you want to make the best data-driven decision for your home, you're in the right place. The most reliable method is to crunch the numbers using your actual energy usage.

Calculate the annual cost, not just the unit rate

To compare gas tariffs accurately, you should project the estimated cost over a full year:

Estimated annual cost = (Monthly standing charge × 12) + (Annual consumption in kWh × Unit rate) + Annual cost of associated services

Applicable taxes are then added to this total, such as the Special Hydrocarbon Tax, the relevant VAT, or the meter rental fee, if applicable.

If you run this calculation for every tariff you're considering, you'll get a much clearer picture of which one offers the best value.

What matters most depending on how much gas you use

How much the standing charge and the unit rate impact your overall gas bill depends directly on your usage. That is why, depending on your household profile, you should focus more on one factor or the other when choosing a tariff.

If you only use gas for hot water or cooking

In these homes, consumption tends to be under 5,000 kWh/year. The energy portion of the bill is relatively small, meaning the standing charge makes up a larger chunk of your total costs.

When comparing gas tariffs, prioritise those offering the lowest possible monthly standing charge and try to avoid paying for maintenance services you don't need.

If you have gas heating

In homes with individual gas heating, annual consumption rises significantly, typically exceeding 9,000 kWh/year. With this level of usage, the unit rate becomes the dominant factor. Even a tiny difference in the unit rate can add up to tens of euros during the coldest winter months.

If your usage is high

For households using over 15,000 kWh/year, energy consumption takes up a major portion of the budget. Here too, the unit rate is highly relevant. Any fluctuation in energy prices will have a direct impact on your outgoings.

In these cases, locking in long-term unit rate stability can help you avoid nasty surprises during the winter.

How to compare the TUR price with a free-market offer

For an accurate comparison, grab your latest gas bill and follow these steps:

1. Check your annual consumption: Find your most recent gas bill. In the consumption information section, you will find your kWh usage history. Note down the exact figure for your cumulative annual natural gas consumption.
2. Identify your tier: Based on your annual kWh usage, find out which access tier you fall into: RL1, RL2, or RL3, and what the equivalent regulated TUR tier is: TUR 1, TUR 2, or TUR 3.
3. Check the current TUR price: Find the latest applicable resolution in the Official State Gazette (BOE) to check the current TUR prices, covering both the monthly standing charge and the unit rate for your tier.
4. Calculate the cost of the free-market offer: Review the offer's commercial terms. Note down the monthly standing charge and the unit rate. Remember to check if it includes mandatory extra services or tie-in periods.
5. Compare the total annual cost: Run the calculation for both scenarios using the exact same consumption figure. The result will show you which option is genuinely cheaper for your household.

FAQs about the TUR and the free gas market

Which is cheaper, the TUR or the free market?

There is no single answer that applies to every home at all times. The regulated TUR is updated quarterly, while free-market offers are dynamic and set independently by each supplier. The only way to know which works out cheaper for you is to compare current offers against your actual annual usage.

Who can sign up for the gas TUR?

The natural gas TUR is available to domestic consumers with a supply pressure of 4 bar or less and a cumulative annual consumption of 50,000 kWh/year or less. Residents' associations can also access the communal TUR, provided they meet certain specific requirements.

Does the TUR have a tie-in period?

No. The Last Resort Tariff has no tie-in period. Customers on the regulated market can switch tariffs or suppliers without facing financial penalties.

Can I switch from the free market to the TUR?

Yes. Any domestic gas user currently on the free market who meets the access requirements can request to switch their supply to the regulated market.

Does a stable gas price mean I always pay the same amount?

No. A stable gas price simply guarantees that the cost of each kWh won't change during your contract period; your bill will still depend on the energy you actually use.

H3: Can I have my electricity on the free market and my gas on the TUR?

Yes. Electricity and natural gas supply contracts are entirely separate. You are under no obligation to have both services with the same company or on the same type of market.