Price of electricity today, August 17: the cheapest hour will be at 14:00 and the most expensive at 21:00

A modification of the voluntary prices system for small consumers (PVPC) does not have its own “special procedure”: it is channeled through a law-level regulation (or a regulation that can later be subject to parliamentary control) and, in the Congress of Deputies, follows the general legislative processing scheme. The specific content about the PVPC can be introduced or altered at several key stages through amendments.

The main steps are described below, focusing on the Congress and indicating at which moments the PVPC regime can be modified.

1. Entry route of the modification

The change of the PVPC is usually articulated through an electricity sector law or a regulation that modifies it. In parliamentary terms, entry to the Congress can typically occur through:

• Bill: drafted and approved by the Government and sent to the Congress to start parliamentary processing. This is the most common route when the Executive itself promotes a structural reform.
• Private member's bill: promoted by one or more parliamentary groups, the Senate, or, in certain cases, regional legislative assemblies. The content about PVPC is already reflected in that initial text, which will be subject to debate and amendments.

Although the entry point may differ, once the initiative is registered and admitted, the process in the Congress is very similar.

2. General debate in the Plenary of the Congress

The first major milestone is the general debate in the Plenary, where the general orientation of the text is discussed. In this phase:

• Groups can present total amendments, requesting the return of the bill or proposing a complete alternative text.
• The content about PVPC is affected globally: if a total amendment with an alternative text is approved, the entire design of the reform, including that related to the PVPC, is replaced by the new one.

If the Plenary rejects the total amendments, the text continues its processing and goes to the competent committee (for example, the Energy Committee or equivalent).

3. Processing in committee: partial amendments to the PVPC

After passing the general debate, the period for article-by-article amendments opens, which are discussed in the competent committee:

• Groups present partial amendments on specific articles, additional or final provisions that regulate the PVPC (definition, calculation formula, beneficiary subjects, etc.).
• The committee debates and votes on these amendments and approves a report, which already incorporates, if applicable, a new design of the PVPC system.

This is one of the key moments to technically adjust the PVPC regulation, as it allows very specific modifications to be introduced.

4. Debate and voting in the Plenary of the report

The committee's report goes to the Plenary of the Congress, where:

• The content is debated, including the provisions on PVPC, and “live” amendments can be presented (those not incorporated in committee).
• The Plenary votes on the pending amendments and, finally, on the entire text.

Here the final position of the Congress on the PVPC is configured. Any change approved at this point redefines the wording with which the text will go to the Senate.

5. Processing in the Senate and return to the Congress

Once approved by the Congress, the text goes to the Senate, which can:

• Approve it without changes, so the PVPC remains regulated as it came from the Congress.
• Amend it, also in the part related to the PVPC, proposing partial adjustments.
• Veto it, opposing the entire regulation.

In case of amendments or veto, the text returns to the Congress, which decides:

• Whether to accept or reject the Senate's amendments (each is voted on). Those accepted are incorporated into the PVPC regulation.
• Whether to override the veto by absolute majority (or simple majority after two months), thus consolidating the initially approved text.

6. Sanction, promulgation, and publication

The final text, already with the definitive configuration of the PVPC, is sent for sanction and promulgation by the King and published in the Official State Gazette. From that publication, the modification of the PVPC system becomes valid and comes into force under the terms provided in the regulation itself (usually through a final provision setting the effective date).

In summary, any PVPC reform in the Congress is mainly played out in three moments: the general debate (general orientation), the committee amendments (technical adjustment of the model), and the Plenary (final political configuration), with a last filter in the Senate before publication in the Official State Gazette.

In the Spanish electricity system, the National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) plays a key role in the regulated components of the bill, but does not set the final electricity price. Its competencies focus on access tolls to the networks, the remuneration methodology for transmission and distribution networks, access and connection conditions, and the supervision of market functioning and certain commercial practices.

Firstly, the CNMC is the authority responsible for approving the access tolls to the electricity transmission and distribution networks. A CNMC resolution dated May 27, 2025, published in the Official State Gazette, states that the body is competent “to issue this resolution under article 7.1 bis of Law 3/2013 […] relating to the function of […] approving, by resolution, the values of access tolls to electricity and gas networks” (BOE-A-2025-11064). These tolls are the regulated component that remunerates the networks and are distributed among different types of consumers.

Specialized press clearly reflects this function: an article from Demócrata about electricity tolls explains that “tolls constitute one of the fixed components of the electricity bill […] and are regulated by the CNMC to cover the costs of the networks and the remuneration to distribution and transmission companies for their investments,” following the methodology of CNMC Circular 3/2020 (news about electricity tolls). This function is framed within the provisions of Law 24/2013 of the Electricity Sector, which assigns the CNMC a role in the regulated cost part of the system.

Secondly, the CNMC develops and applies the remuneration methodology for the networks. Various resolutions and circulars, published in the Official State Gazette, show that the regulator sets the financial remuneration rate for transmission and distribution activities and the criteria to remunerate investments in networks, within the limits set by the Government. Demócrata summarizes that CNMC circulars on electricity networks “set the methodology and the financial remuneration rate (TRF) for distribution and transmission of electric energy” for each regulatory period (electric networks remuneration).

Thirdly, the CNMC is competent to define the methodologies and conditions of access and connection to the networks, which indirectly affects regulated costs and, therefore, tolls. A press release from the organization itself recalls that article 33 of Law 24/2013 “establishes a division of competencies between the Government and the CNMC to regulate access and connection to electricity transmission and distribution networks,” and that the CNMC “has the competence to establish the methodology and conditions of access and connection” (CNMC note on access capacity). This authorization is developed, for example, in the Resolution of June 8, 2025, on firm demand access capacity (BOE-A-2025-12396).

A fourth block of competencies refers to the methodologies of certain system services and their remuneration regime, which also form part of the regulated costs. The Resolution of June 12, 2025, on the voltage control service, relies on article 7.1.c of Law 3/2013, which grants the CNMC the power to establish “by circular, the methodologies related to the provision of balancing and non-frequency services of the electrical system […] including their remuneration regime” (BOE-A-2025-13076). These services are paid through charges and tolls borne by consumers.

In parallel, the CNMC performs market and commercial practice supervision functions related to retail prices. Demócrata reports that the body “supervises energy markets” and can intensify monitoring of wholesale and retail energy prices at the Government's request (energy price control). Another CNMC communication reminds electricity retailers with fixed prices that they cannot unilaterally modify the regulated price except in the part depending on tolls and charges, emphasizing its role in monitoring contractual conditions and consumer protection.

Additionally, in the general scope of its regulated sectors, a recent profile of the organization summarizes that, in electricity and gas, the CNMC controls “tolls, networks, competition, and market functioning” (explanation about the CNMC). This aligns with Law 3/2013, whose article 7, as several resolutions recall, assigns it supervision and control in the electricity sector, as well as the power to issue circulars and implementing acts on matters such as tolls, remuneration methodologies, or balancing services.

Finally, the analyzed texts consistently reflect the division of competencies with the Government. While the CNMC sets methodologies and values of access tolls and certain remunerations, the system charges (other regulated components of the bill that finance, for example, certain system costs) are set annually by the competent Ministry, as explained in Demócrata news about the electricity bill. The CNMC also performs periodic settlements of system revenues and costs and publishes imbalances and coverage coefficients, applying Law 24/2013, completing its role in the regulated part of tariffs.

The Voluntary Price for the Small Consumer (PVPC) is the regulated electricity tariff in Spain. Its basic conditions are set out in the Royal Decree 216/2014, of March 28, which establishes the calculation methodology of the PVPC and its contracting regime, with successive modifications (among others, by Royal Decree 148/2021 and Royal Decree 446/2023), and is connected with Royal Decree 897/2017 regarding the social bonus.

1. Type of consumer and supply holder

According to article 3 of Royal Decree 216/2014, only the following can opt for the PVPC:

• Holders of supply points who are natural persons (domestic consumers) and
• Holders who are microenterprises, in the sense of Regulation (EU) 651/2014 (fewer than 10 employees and turnover or balance sheet ≤ 2 million euros).

The holder is key: the right to PVPC is linked to the contract holder, not to the person who actually pays the bill. In the case of microenterprises, their status must be accredited before the reference retailer through a declaration of responsibility in the model provided in Annex III of Royal Decree 216/2014, and any change implying loss of microenterprise status must be communicated.

2. Technical requirements of the supply point

The same article 3 establishes the essential supply requirements:

• It must be low voltage supplies, that is, at voltages not exceeding 1 kV.
• The contracted power must be less than or equal to 10 kW in each of the tariff's time periods.

The 10 kW limit can be modified by ministerial order, but the current general rule is that. If the supply point exceeds these parameters (for example, 13 kW power or medium voltage supplies), it cannot contract PVPC.

3. Meter and remote measurement

Royal Decree 216/2014 foresees that, for low voltage supplies up to 15 kW, smart meters are integrated into remote measurement systems. This is not a requirement to have the right to PVPC, but affects how billing is done:

• If there is an integrated smart meter, the PVPC bill is made with actual hourly consumption.
• If not, standard consumption profiles are applied.

In any case, the absence of remote measurement does not prevent opting for PVPC as long as voltage and maximum power are met.

4. Relationship with the social bonus

The social bonus, regulated by Royal Decree 897/2017, requires being on the PVPC, but not vice versa:

• To apply for the social bonus, one must be a domestic consumer in the habitual residence, a natural person holder, and have a PVPC contract with a reference retailer.
• To contract PVPC, it is not necessary to meet vulnerability requirements nor to apply for the social bonus.

5. Homeowners' associations and SMEs

The regulation refers to natural persons and microenterprises:

• A homeowners' association is not, in principle, a natural person nor a microenterprise, so as a general rule it cannot opt for PVPC in its common services contract.
• An SME can only opt if it falls into the microenterprise category of the Regulation (EU) and accredits it; if it is a small or medium enterprise but not a microenterprise, it has no right to PVPC.

6. Free market, retailers, and contracting method

Royal Decree 216/2014 establishes that:

• PVPC can only be contracted with an officially designated reference retailer.
• Any consumer meeting the requirements of article 3 has the right to formalize a PVPC contract with that retailer, whether coming from the free market or a new connection. It is not necessary to have previously been on PVPC nor is there mandatory permanence.
• PVPC contracts are, by default, annual with automatic renewal, although the consumer can terminate them at any time without cost (and switch to another retailer).
• PVPC cannot include other additional products or services (maintenance, insurance, etc.); those extras belong to free market offers.

Additionally, the regulation sets a maximum period of 21 days for the change of retailer to PVPC from when the distributor receives the request, without penalty from the reference retailer.

In summary, to legally opt for PVPC in Spain, the consumer must be a natural person or microenterprise holder, with a low voltage supply point (≤ 1 kV) and contracted power ≤ 10 kW, and contract with a reference retailer, without needing to meet vulnerability requirements or having been previously in a specific market type.