April 10, 2026
Hourly vs Fixed Price: Which Electricity Plan Is Cheaper in Spain?
In Spain you basically have two choices for your electricity plan: one where the price changes every hour, or one where you pay the same price all the time. The difference can easily be hundreds of euros a year — so it’s worth understanding which one makes more sense for you.
The hourly price plan
With this plan, the price you pay for electricity is different every single hour of the day. Tomorrow’s prices get published tonight around 8 PM, so you can always see in advance when it’ll be cheap and when it’ll be expensive.
For example, at 3 AM you might pay just €0.06 per kWh (a unit of electricity — roughly what it takes to run a washing machine for one cycle). But at 9 PM that same kWh could cost €0.25. That’s more than 4 times the price just because of the time of day.
This plan is only available from a few specific companies: Endesa, Iberdrola, Naturgy, and EDP. You can’t get it from other providers.
The fixed price plan
This one’s simpler: you pay the same price per kWh no matter what time it is. A typical fixed price in 2026 is somewhere between €0.12 and €0.18 per kWh.
Pretty much any electricity company can offer you a fixed price. You usually sign up for 12 months. The upside? Your bills are predictable — no surprises.
When does the hourly plan save you more?
The hourly plan is usually cheaper if you can:
- Run your washing machine, dishwasher, and dryer at night — between midnight and 8 AM, prices are at their lowest
- Charge your electric car overnight — nighttime prices regularly drop below €0.08/kWh
- Be flexible with when you use electricity — basically, avoid using a lot between 6 PM and 10 PM (that’s the expensive window)
- You don’t use a ton of electricity overall — smaller households benefit more
For a typical household using 2,500 kWh a year, shifting 30-40% of usage to nighttime can save €50-100/year compared to a fixed plan. Bigger households (4,000+ kWh) can save double that.
When is a fixed price better?
A fixed price makes more sense if you:
- Use electricity when you use it — you can’t (or don’t want to) schedule your life around cheap hours
- Like knowing exactly what you’ll pay — same amount every month, no thinking required
- Use a lot of electricity in the evening — cooking dinner, running the AC, watching TV, all between 6-10 PM
- Just want it simple — you don’t want to check prices or set timers on your appliances
A real-world comparison
For a typical apartment in Spain using about 2,500 kWh per year (that’s a normal amount for a couple or small family):
| How you use electricity | Hourly plan | Fixed plan (€0.14/kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Mostly during the day and evening | ~€375/year | €350/year |
| Normal mix of hours | ~€310/year | €350/year |
| You shift 40% to nighttime | ~€260/year | €350/year |
The more you can move your heavy usage to cheap hours, the more the hourly plan saves you.
So which one should you pick?
Ask yourself this: Can I run my washing machine and dishwasher after midnight or before 8 AM?
If yes — go with the hourly plan. You’ll pay less, and you can check SPARKANDA to see when tomorrow’s cheapest hours are.
If no — get a good fixed price deal. You’ll sleep easy knowing your bill won’t change.
Switching is free — seriously
In Spain, changing your electricity plan or company costs nothing. No penalties, no cancellation fees, and it usually takes about 1-2 weeks. All you need is your CUPS code — that’s a code on your electricity bill that starts with “ES” and identifies your home’s connection. Every bill has it.
The best part? You can always try the hourly plan for a few months, see how it goes, and switch to a fixed price if you don’t like it. There’s zero risk.