You open your electricity bill and the numbers don't add up. You don’t remember consuming more than last month, yet the amount has increased. What happened?
In recent months, electricity prices have continued to fluctuate, raising questions in many households. Unexpected increases, occasional drops, and differences depending on the time of day make it difficult to fully understand what is happening.
The price of electricity in Spain is determined in the wholesale market, also known as the “electricity pool”. Simply put, the price is set based on the supply and demand of energy for each hour of the day.
This means that:
In addition, different generation technologies (renewables, nuclear, hydroelectric, etc.) are part of this process, which influences the final result.
Electricity prices in Spain are not fixed and change daily, even hourly. These variations are not random but are driven by several key factors:
When there is more solar or wind energy generation, prices tend to decrease, as these sources have lower costs.
Electricity consumption is not the same throughout the day. For example, when people return home in the evening and use several appliances at once, demand increases and prices may rise.
Electricity prices do not exist in isolation. The availability of natural gas or geopolitical developments also influence the final cost. These factors are beyond the consumer's control, but they have a real impact on the bill.
Factors such as extreme cold or heat can increase consumption. A mild day is very different from a cold spell or a heatwave, when the use of heating or air conditioning rises significantly.
Understanding these factors will not give you control over the market, but it will help you be better prepared and more aware of your energy consumption. And that is where real savings begin.
In the current context, there are now more pronounced differences between the cheapest and most expensive hours of the day. In practice, this means that choosing when to consume electricity is more important than ever.
If you have a variable tariff, the timing of your appliance usage matters greatly. The general pattern in Spain is quite consistent:
|
Time slot |
Usual price |
|
Early morning (23:00–08:00) |
Generally low — minimum demand |
|
Morning (08:00–14:00) |
Expensive — Demand increases |
|
Midday (14:00–18:00) |
Cheapest — peak solar generation |
|
Evening (18:00–22:00) |
Most expensive — peak demand |
This behavior is related to consumption patterns and the availability of renewable generation.
In practice, this means that if you have a Nordy Market Tariff, running the washing machine, dishwasher, or charging your electric car at midday or during the early morning can lead to real savings on your monthly bill. There is no need to change your entire routine: simply shifting the moments of highest consumption is enough.
The impact on your bill depends mainly on the type of tariff you have contracted.
Knowing that prices vary is useful, but what really matters is how this affects what you pay. And here, a key factor comes into play: the type of tariff you have.
If you have a variable tariff, the price you pay per kilowatt-hour (kWh) changes according to the wholesale market price in each time slot. If you consume during cheaper hours, you pay less; if you consume during peak hours, you pay more. This tariff can be convenient if you have the flexibility to adapt your consumption.
If you have a fixed tariff, the price per kWh remains the same throughout the contract period. The market may rise or fall, but your bill remains predictable based on your consumption. This option offers greater peace of mind, especially if you cannot or do not want to check prices every day.
In both cases, understanding how prices vary allows you to make more efficient decisions about your consumption.
Electricity prices are dynamic and influenced by multiple factors, but understanding how they work allows you to anticipate changes and adapt more effectively.
Which option is better? It depends on your consumption profile and your tolerance for uncertainty. What is certain is that understanding this difference is the first step toward making a decision that fits your actual situation.
Electricity prices depend on the balance between available energy (solar, wind, nuclear, gas) and demand. As both factors constantly change due to weather, consumption habits, and international market conditions, prices also vary daily and even hourly.
In general, the central hours of the day (12:00–16:00) and early morning (00:00–08:00) tend to have lower prices due to solar generation and lower demand. Evening hours (18:00–22:00) are usually the most expensive. The exact price varies each day, so it is advisable to check if you want to optimize your consumption.
You can consult hourly prices on our site or at Red Eléctrica de España (REE) website.
No. The impact depends on the contracted tariff:
Variable tariff: your bill rises or falls with the market.
Fixed tariff: the price remains stable during the contract period, regardless of what happens in the wholesale market.
Yes. If you have a variable tariff, shifting the use of high-consumption appliances (washing machine, dishwasher, oven) to cheaper hours can significantly reduce your bill. It is not about changing your lifestyle, but about making small adjustments during peak consumption periods.
External factors such as weather, renewable availability, or fluctuations in international markets are beyond the consumer’s control. What matters is focusing on what you can control: when and how you use energy.
Do you want to know if your current tariff is the most suitable for you? Calculate your potential savings with our team.
Calculate your savings now and contract with Nordy!