Electricity Prices in Portugal (2026)
Portugal's households paid €0.2367 per kWh in the first half of 2026, per Eurostat — 16% below the EU average, in a market where wind, water and sun now dominate the generation mix.
By the EnergyPrices Europe editorial team · Updated $1
Key numbers at a glance
| Portugal — household electricity | Price (EUR/kWh, taxes incl.) | Annual bill at 3,500 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| First half of 2026 | €0.2367 | €828.45 |
Per Eurostat (dataset nrg_pc_204), first half of 2026, consumption band 2,500–5,000 kWh a year (band DC), all taxes and levies included. EU average: €0.2832/kWh.
Electricity prices in Portugal: the numbers
Portugal lands at €0.2367 per kWh for households in the first half of 2026, per Eurostat — below the EU average of €0.2832 by 16% — the 18th highest of the 27 EU member states. The price fell 1% year on year (from €0.2390 in the first half of 2025). The table tracks the last three semesters:
| Period (band DC, taxes incl.) | EUR per kWh | Change |
|---|---|---|
| First half of 2025 | €0.2390 | — |
| Second half of 2025 | €0.2435 | +1.9% vs S1 |
| First half of 2026 | €0.2367 | -2.8% vs S2 · -1.0% YoY |
Per Eurostat, electricity prices for household consumers, dataset nrg_pc_204 (band DC = 2,500–5,000 kWh/year, all taxes and levies included). In Portugal, the price fell 1% year on year (from €0.2390 in the first half of 2025).
What the price is made of: energy, networks, taxes
| Component (2026-S1) | EUR per kWh | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Energy, supply and network (ex taxes) | €0.1576 | 67% |
| Taxes, levies and VAT | €0.0791 | 33% |
| Total (all-in) | €0.2367 | 100% |
The Eurostat figure is an all-in average: the energy component, network charges, levies and VAT together. In Portugal, taxes, levies and VAT made up 33% of the household price in 2026-S1 (the ex-tax price was €0.1576/kWh per Eurostat). Network costs in particular are set or approved by ERSE and change on regulatory cycles, not with the wholesale market.
Standing charges in Portugal
Portuguese bills are per kWh with modest fixed monthly charges for network access (a few euros); bi-hourly tariffs (vazio/fora de vazio) are standard and reward overnight EV charging.
Typical annual electricity bill in Portugal
| Annual consumption | Approximate annual cost (all-in rate) |
|---|---|
| 2,500 kWh (low user) | €591.75 |
| 3,500 kWh (mid-range EU household) | €828.45 |
| 4,500 kWh (higher-use household) | €1,065.15 |
Computed at the all-in Eurostat rate of €0.2367/kWh (2026-S1); fixed fees are excluded — see the standing-charge section above. Typical use is around 2,000–3,500 kWh; mild winters and widespread gas-free cooking (LPG historically) keep electric loads moderate.
What drives prices in Portugal
Generation mix. Portugal is a renewables leader: 65.6% of gross electricity consumption in 2025 (Eurostat, provisional) came from hydro, wind and solar, and the country regularly runs on 100% renewables for days at a time in peak wind-and-hydro season. Gas plants cover dry, calm gaps, and Portugal imports some Spanish power through the MIBEL market they share. On the numbers: renewables covered 65.6% of gross electricity consumption in 2025 (provisional), per Eurostat's renewable energy statistics.
Market structure and wholesale exposure. Portugal and Spain form the single MIBEL wholesale market; ERSE regulates networks and until recently published a regulated tariff (that channel closed for most consumers in 2025 — check your status with ERSE). Most households now buy from EDP Comercial and rivals on fixed or indexed (spot-linked) products. The ex-tax price of €0.1576/kWh versus the €0.2367 all-in figure shows a 33% tax-and-levy wedge, driven by the audiovisual levy, CCG remuneration and VAT at 23% (6% for low-income households under the social tariff).
Taxes, levies and policy. The Iberian exception — the 2022–2024 gas-price cap mechanism agreed with the EU — ended, and with it the subsidised wholesale wedge. Portugal's social tariff discounts vulnerable households' bills automatically. Verify current regulated-market access with ERSE or DGEG.
Neighbouring markets tell the rest of the story: compare electricity prices in Spain and electricity prices in France, or see the full European price comparison.
How to pay less for electricity in Portugal
Three levers move almost every European bill. First, tariff choice: check whether you are on a default, universal-service or legacy product, and compare it against current fixed and spot-linked offers — in markets like Portugal the spread between the cheapest and default tariff regularly runs 10–20%. Use ERSE's official comparison tool where one exists.
Second, consumption timing and efficiency: night or time-of-use tariffs, heat-pump and insulation upgrades, and shifting washing and EV charging off evening peaks cut bills without cutting comfort. Third, self-generation: rooftop solar pays back fastest in high-price markets — at €0.2367/kWh, every self-consumed kWh is worth roughly that much at retail. Verify support schemes and current tariffs with ERSE (erse.pt) before committing.
FAQ
What is the price of electricity in Portugal in 2026?
€0.2367 per kWh for a typical household in the first half of 2026, per Eurostat (dataset nrg_pc_204, consumption band 2,500–5,000 kWh a year, all taxes and levies included). That is the 18th highest of the 27 EU member states, 16% below the EU average of €0.2832.
What does the Eurostat household electricity price include?
Eurostat reports the all-in price per kWh: the energy component, network charges, renewable and policy levies, and VAT — averaged over households consuming 2,500–5,000 kWh a year (band DC), weighted to that country's actual consumption. It is the closest thing to a comparable household price across Europe, but your own bill will differ with tariff, region and consumption.
Is there a standing charge on electricity in Portugal?
Portuguese bills are per kWh with modest fixed monthly charges for network access (a few euros); bi-hourly tariffs (vazio/fora de vazio) are standard and reward overnight EV charging. Where fixed fees exist, compare offers on total cost — energy per kWh plus fixed fee — not on the headline rate alone. ERSE publishes approved tariffs.
Why is electricity in Portugal cheap compared with the EU average?
Portugal is a renewables leader: 65.6% of gross electricity consumption in 2025 (Eurostat, provisional) came from hydro, wind and solar, and the country regularly runs on 100% renewables for days at a time in peak wind-and-hydro season. Gas plants cover dry, calm gaps, and Portugal imports some Spanish power through the MIBEL market they share. The Iberian exception — the 2022–2024 gas-price cap mechanism agreed with the EU — ended, and with it the subsidised wholesale wedge. Portugal's social tariff discounts vulnerable households' bills automatically. Verify current regulated-market access with ERSE or DGEG. The all-in price of €0.2367/kWh stands 16% below the EU average of €0.2832 (Eurostat, 2026-S1).
How much is a typical annual electricity bill in Portugal?
At the 2026-S1 Eurostat rate of €0.2367/kWh, a household using 3,500 kWh a year pays about €828.45 — roughly €568.08 to €994.14 across the 2,400–4,200 kWh range. Fixed fees are excluded; add them where they apply.
How can I reduce my electricity bill in Portugal?
Compare tariffs regularly (including fixed versus spot-linked products), switch heavy usage to cheaper time-of-use windows where available, invest in insulation or a heat pump if your heating is electric-resistive, and consider rooftop solar where regulation allows self-consumption or net metering. Verify current offers and schemes with ERSE.
Sources: Eurostat — Electricity price statistics and dataset nrg_pc_204; Eurostat renewable energy statistics; World Nuclear Association (2024); ERSE. Figures are period averages — always verify your own tariff with your supplier or ERSE. See the full European overview or our comparison of all 30 markets.