In the first half of 2025, electricity prices in Portugal were below the European average – and even dropped compared to the second half of 2024 -, data from the Energy Services Regulatory Authority (ERSE) and Eurostat. In natural gas the situation is reversed, with Portuguese families paying much more than their Spanish neighbors and also compared to the EU average. However, Throughout the year there are good practices that consumers can follow to maximize savings on their energy bills. Find out which ones on this World Savings Day.
1. Does Portugal pay more for electricity than the rest of the EU?
No. According to the electricity price comparison bulletin in Portugal with the European Union, published every six months by ERSE – based on Eurostat data -, in the first half of 2025, national values were below those of Spain and the average of 27. In the domestic segment, the Portuguese pay, on average, 25 cents for each kilowatt-hour consumed, 8% less than the Spanish (27 cents/kWh) and 16% less than the Europeans (29 cents/kWh). Of this value, 67% relates to energy and access to networks and 34% are fees and taxes (includes costs of general economic interest).
“ADespite registering a weight in the component of taxes and fees above other geographies, Portugal continues to present the lowest prices in absolute value”, says ERSE in its bulletin. The Germans are those who pay the most expensive bill (almost 40 cents for each kWh, and the Hungarians the cheapest (11 cents/kWh).
2. What about gas?
Sim. In the first half of 2025, the average price of natural gas in Portugal, for the domestic segment, was lower than the Euro Area average (-3%), but much higher than that in Spain (+34%) and the European Union average (+3%). Here, the price of natural gas for families is 15 cents per kWh (in line with the EU average), while in Spain it does not exceed 10 cents/kWh. Sweden has the most expensive gas in the EU (60 cents/kWh) and Hungary the cheapest (3 cents/kWh). In the national gas bill, 65% of the value relates to energy and networks and 35% to fees and taxes (including VAT).
3. What can be done to reduce the monthly electricity bill?
There are several easy-to-practice habits that can help save energy on a daily basis. According to E-Redes, making the most of sunlight, which is abundant in the country, can make all the difference: in winter, take advantage of the sun to heat the house, opening the blinds and curtains; and in summer, avoid direct sunlight during the day and promote natural ventilation at night, opening windows on opposite sides of the house. Throughout the year, the lamps must be turned off when they are not in use; Do not leave electronic equipment in stand-by; avoid turning on the air conditioning in areas of the house that are not in use; reduce the number of times you open the refrigerator door; let food cool before placing it in the refrigerator; use the microwave preferably for small, easy-to-prepare meals; use the sun and wind to dry clothes, whenever possible; and avoid printing documents.
In the lighting, amChanging from incandescent lamps to LED technology allows energy efficiency gains of 85%, while in the air conditioning of homes it is necessary to insulate doors and windows and fix temperature between 24ºC and 26ºC in summer and 18ºC and 20ºC in winter. To wash clothes and dishes, The machines must be used with the maximum load indicated by the manufacturer for each program, without overloading and the refrigerator compartment must be set at +5ºC and the freezer compartment at -18ºC. For cooking, pChoose an induction hob, which is faster and more efficient.
4. What precautions should be taken in the electricity contract, so as not to pay too much?
Consumers must choose the most appropriate tariff for each type of domestic use, in order to reduce electricity consumption, and also consider which power to contract (the lower it is, the less the fixed daily amount to be paid on the invoice) and the time to use (single, bi-hourly or tri-hourly). Before deciding, ERSE advises you to compare prices, using simulators, and change supplier whenever justified, taking into account additional services contracted alongside the supply of electricity, such as maintenance services, health insurance and others, as these require loyalty and payment of monthly fees even if you change company. The Energy Services Regulatory Authority approved this week,
To choose the best contact power, evaluate which devices must be connected simultaneously so that the electrical panel does not collapse. The more devices connected at the same time, the higher the contracted power level will have to be and the higher the amount to be paid on the invoice. If the electrical panel trips, there are two options: not using some devices at the same time or increasing the contracted power, recommends ERSE. However, if it never fires, there may be room to reduce the contracted power. This is a fixed daily amount (does not vary depending on consumption), part of which is included in the Network Access Tariff (which reflects the cost of electricity networks for all consumers) and part is reflected in the commercialization margin (energy portion), which differs between suppliers.
Another way of saving can be through VAT on electricity, as the first 200 kWh consumed by each family monthly are taxed at 6%, while everything in excess jumps to the maximum rate of 23%. Contracted powers up to 3.45 kVA also benefit from 6% VAT.
5. How to save on your gas bill?
According to Deco Proteste, the price of gas, in all its forms of domestic consumption (natural, piped and bottled propane), “has a significant impact on the monthly bill”. To increase savings, consumer protection recommends reduce gas consumption in the kitchen, starting with washing the dishes in the dishwasher, using its full capacity, instead of washing them by hand; andavoid washing dishes under running water; prepair all cooking ingredients before turning on the stove or oven; to place lids on pans to speed up cooking; bturn down the heat after boiling; swhenever possible, cook in a pressure cooker (saving 15% on gas); avoid opening the oven when it is on and enjoy to cook several foods at the same time; dturn off the oven before the food is ready, taking advantage of the residual heat; choose one gas oven with internal ventilation.
In the bathroom, immersion baths should be avoided and preference should be given to quick showers. “A daily 10-minute shower, considering a family of three people, can translate into spending between 5,400 and 18 thousand liters of water per month, depending on the efficiency of the shower. Try taking just five minutes to save on these costs”, says Deco Proteste. It is also worth installing an efficient shower with reduced flow, to avoid using more gas than necessary. Likewise, it is important to choose sanitary water heating equipment (water heater or water heater) suitable for the real usage profile of the home, as purchasing a device with a capacity greater than necessary will lead to unnecessary expenses.
To heat the house, instead of air conditioning the entire home, it is better to choose to keep the heating on only in the inhabited rooms. The ideal is to invest in thermal insulation of the house, caulking doors and windows. If you have a good frame, the temperature will not leave the rooms so easily, especially if the heating is gas. Always program equipment for moderate temperatures. To heat your home using electricity, air conditioning systems are the most efficient option, as they save around 164 euros per year compared to a fan heater.
For those who have natural gas, consumer protection also advises switching to the regulated market, which has lower tariffs than the liberalized market for most consumption profiles.
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