Price of electricity today, October 31: the cheapest hours and what to look at before turning on the heating

The wholesale market records an average of 208.98 euros per megawatt hour. For the consumer with PVPC, the hourly references consulted place the minimum in the early afternoon and the maximum between 19:00 and 20:00

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Elecciones generales del 29 de noviembre · Demócrata

The price of electricity this Saturday, October 31, makes it necessary to distinguish between two figures that answer different questions. The wholesale market marks an average of 208.98 euros per megawatt hour, according to OMIE. That amount corresponds to the trading of electricity and is not the final price that appears on a household bill.

For those who have the regulated PVPC tariff contracted, the references published by PVPC.es and Vico place the cheapest period between 14:00 and 15:00, at 0.0215 euros per kilowatt hour. The most expensive appears between 19:00 and 20:00, at 0.3259 euros. Vico's hourly amounts correspond to the energy term, without electricity tax, VAT or power term.

Price of electricity by hour this Saturday

The table allows you to compare the cost of energy between hours. It does not represent a tariff applicable to all contracts nor does it include all the concepts on the bill.






























October 31, 2026 · PVPC energy term · Peninsular time
Time slotPrice in €/kWh
00.00–01.000,2379
01.00–02.000,2452
02.00–03.000,2506
03.00–04.000,2477
04.00–05.000,2434
05.00–06.000,2372
06.00–07.000,2326
07.00–08.000,2597
08.00–09.000,2530
09.00–10.000,1633
10.00–11.000,0789
11.00–12.000,0292
12.00–13.000,0235
13.00–14.000,0227
14.00–15.00 · Minimum0,0215
15.00–16.000,0292
16.00–17.000,1256
17.00–18.000,2508
18.00–19.000,3096
19.00–20.00 · Maximum0,3259
20.00–21.000,3179
21.00–22.000,2761
22.00–23.000,2566
23.00–24.000,2472


Source: table published by Vico for 31/10/2026. Amounts without electricity tax, VAT or power term. They do not correspond to the final price of the bill.


How much the cost of an electric radiator changes

A device that consumes a constant 2,000 watts for one hour uses 2 kWh. Applying the references in the table, the energy component would be approximately 0.043 euros in the cheapest hour and 0.652 euros in the most expensive one.

This is a calculation example, not a complete estimate of the bill. Nor does it mean that any radiator continuously consumes at its maximum power: the thermostat and the effective operating time modify consumption.

The operation can be done with any appliance: power in kilowatts multiplied by hours of use and by the kilowatt-hour price.

Why these hours may not affect your contract

Before reorganizing consumption, you have to look at the bill. A free-market customer with a fixed price per kWh does not necessarily pay less for using an appliance during the PVPC minimum.

There are also contracts with several periods or indexed formulas. In those cases, the specific structure agreed with the supplier must be consulted.

The first check, therefore, is not the clock, but the name of the tariff and its conditions. Then it can be assessed whether it is worth shifting flexible consumption, such as a washing machine or dishwasher cycle.

The wholesale price does not allow the bill to be calculated directly

Dividing 208.98 euros per MWh by one thousand gives 0.20898 euros per kWh, but that unit conversion does not turn the OMIE data into a household tariff.

The bill includes other components and depends on the contract. Using the wholesale average as if it were the final amount can lead to miscalculating both the heating expense and the expected saving when changing schedule.

More key points, information and questions with FREN

AI-GENERATED CONTENT

What parliamentary procedures are necessary to modify the electricity tariff system in Spain?

Not every modification of electricity tariffs requires a law or a parliamentary vote. The procedure depends on whether a rule established by law is changed or an aspect that can be developed through regulation. When the legal framework is modified, the Congress and Senate intervene; if there is extraordinary and urgent need, a decree-law can be used, subject to control by the Congress.

1. Determine what must be modified

The first step is to identify which component of the tariff system is to be changed and which regulation governs it. A regulation cannot contradict a law. However, the development of aspects that the legislation leaves to the competent authorities does not necessarily require further parliamentary intervention. Therefore, there is no single parliamentary procedure for any change in the electricity bill.

2. If a law is needed

The processing follows the legislative procedure, regulated in articles 108 and following of the Congress Regulations:

  • Initiative. The Government can present a bill. Proposals for laws can also be initiated from Parliament and through other constitutionally provided means. Proposals from the Congress require consideration: a vote to decide whether their processing begins. Government projects do not go through this filter.
  • Publication and amendments. The Board orders the publication of the text and sends it to the competent committee. The initial period to amend a project is fifteen working days, although it can be modified. Amendments can change articles or, when appropriate, request the return of the project or propose an alternative text.
  • Debate on entirety. If total amendments are presented, the Plenary debates them. If a return is approved, the project is rejected; otherwise, it continues.
  • Committee and subcommittee. The subcommittee studies the text and amendments and prepares a report. Then, the committee debates the articles and approves a report.
  • Approval in Congress. The Plenary debates the report and the maintained amendments. However, a committee can definitively approve the text when acting with full legislative competence. The general rule is a simple majority: more favorable votes than opposing.

Additionally, amendments that increase credits or reduce budget revenues require the Government's consent to be processed, according to article 111.

3. Senate and final approval

The approved text goes to the Senate, which can accept it, introduce amendments, or veto it. Generally, it has two months; in urgent processing, the period is reduced to twenty days.

If there are changes, the Congress decides to accept or reject them by simple majority. If there is a veto, it can be lifted by absolute majority or, after two months from its imposition, by simple majority. After parliamentary approval, the law is sanctioned, promulgated, and published.

4. The alternative of the decree-law

The Government can approve a decree-law when it justifies an extraordinary and urgent need connected with the adopted measures. It is not enough to want to accelerate the reform.

The Congress must decide on its validation or repeal within thirty days following its promulgation. That vote decides on the whole, without introducing amendments. After validating it, its processing as an urgent bill can be agreed upon, allowing then modifications and Senate intervention.

5. Regulatory development and control

If it is enough to develop the existing legal framework, this legislative route is not repeated. The Cortes can previously modify legal authorizations and later control the Government through questions, interpellations, and motions. Non-law proposals serve to formulate political orientations but do not themselves modify tariffs nor replace the necessary regulation.

What powers does the National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) have regarding the setting of electricity prices?

The CNMC does not set the total price of electricity nor decide daily how much energy costs in the wholesale market. It does determine network tolls and certain regulated remunerations, approves rules within its competencies, and monitors that prices are formed without anti-competitive practices or manipulations. To understand its scope, it is useful to separate the components of the bill.

1. Electric tolls: direct competence

The CNMC establishes the structure, calculation methodology, and values of transport and distribution tolls. These are the amounts intended to pay for the networks that carry electricity to consumers, not the cost of producing it.

Article 16 of the Electricity Sector Law assigns this function to the body. The methodology is developed in Circular 3/2020, modified, among others, by Circular 1/2025. Tolls are generally updated annually by resolution published in the BOE. Those applicable from January 1, 2026, were approved by the Resolution of December 18.

2. Remuneration of networks and operation

It also approves methodologies, parameters, and the annual remuneration of transport and distribution, as well as the remuneration of the system operator. These decisions influence the costs that must be recovered through tolls.

Royal Decree-law 1/2019 strengthened these powers to align them with European law. The CNMC acts with regulatory independence, although it must consider energy policy guidelines and respect legal limits. Therefore, it does not have unlimited freedom to increase or reduce these amounts.

3. Wholesale market: rules and oversight, not daily price

The wholesale price results from the meeting of sale offers and demand, according to market rules. The CNMC does not replace that mechanism with an administratively decided price.

Its intervention is not only supervisory: it regulates the operating rules of organized markets in aspects assigned to the national regulatory authority by European law. Additionally, it approves methodologies and procedures related to system operation, including services that impact supply costs.

It monitors offers, operations, and price evolution to detect irregularities. According to the European REMIT regulation, it supervises the integrity and transparency of the wholesale market, as explained in this official explanation of its functions.

4. PVPC and charges: Government decisions

The methodology of the Voluntary Price for the Small Consumer —PVPC— corresponds to the Government, not the CNMC. It is regulated by Royal Decree 216/2014, subsequently modified. It combines the cost of energy with tolls, charges, and commercialization costs.

The CNMC informs on regulatory projects and supervises their application but cannot unilaterally change that formula. Tolls should also not be confused with charges: these cover other regulated system costs and their structure, methodology, and values correspond to the Ministry for Ecological Transition.

5. Competition, sanctions, and consumers

The CNMC can investigate agreements between companies, abuses of dominant position, and behaviors that unlawfully alter prices; within its powers, it can sanction infractions and require corrective measures. It also supervises information, contracting, and billing obligations of retailers.

In conclusion: it can act directly on certain regulated components and against illegal conduct, but cannot order a general reduction of all commercial tariffs nor set the final electricity price alone.

What legal requirements must a consumer meet to access the regulated PVPC tariff?

To access the Voluntary Price for the Small Consumer (PVPC), the holder must be a natural person or a microenterprise, have an electricity supply at a voltage not exceeding 1 kV, and a contracted power of up to 10 kW in each time period. Additionally, they must contract the supply with a reference retailer. Low income or vulnerable consumer status is not required: those conditions correspond to the social bonus, not to general access to PVPC.

1. Requirements of the holder and supply

The main rule is in article 5.3 of Royal Decree 216/2014, which allows holders who are "natural persons or microenterprises" and meet the following technical conditions to access PVPC:

  • Supply voltage not exceeding 1 kV. Access is intended for low voltage supplies, not for any electrical installation.
  • Contracted power less than or equal to 10 kW in all time periods. It is not enough to respect that maximum in one of them: if any exceeds 10 kW, the requirement is not met.
  • Ownership of the supply point. Conditions are checked regarding who is listed as the contract holder.

For a natural person, this regulation does not require that the supply corresponds to their habitual residence. It also does not establish an income limit to contract the ordinary PVPC. Habitual residence is a relevant condition when applying for the social bonus.

2. Contracting with a reference retailer

Article 5.4 requires that the consumer be supplied and have formalized the corresponding contract with a reference retailer, without having expressly chosen another contracting modality. Therefore, meeting the power limit does not automatically convert a free market contract into a PVPC contract.

Additionally, unless expressly stated otherwise, the contracting modality with the reference retailer will be PVPC. It is advisable to verify that the contract identifies that modality and the entity that actually provides the supply.

PVPC does not include other additional products or services. Consequently, contracting maintenance, insurance, or other services is not a legal requirement to access this tariff.

3. Additional requirements for microenterprises

The wording introduced by Royal Decree 446/2023 requires companies to prove their microenterprise status according to the definition in Regulation (EU) 651/2014. Therefore, it is not enough for a business to have low contracted power.

  • They must submit a responsible declaration to the reference retailer, following the model in Annex III of Royal Decree 216/2014, when requesting or renewing the contract.
  • The National Commission on Markets and Competition may request additional information to verify that status.
  • If they cease to be microenterprises, they must notify the reference retailer within a maximum period of one month.

4. Difference between PVPC and social bonus

Royal Decree 897/2017 requires, to be a vulnerable consumer, to be a natural person, holder of the supply of the habitual residence, and be under PVPC, in addition to meeting the economic or personal conditions provided. Severe vulnerability adds more restrictive income thresholds; it does not create a different access route to PVPC.

In short, the Electricity Sector Law 24/2013 establishes the general framework and Royal Decree 216/2014 specifies who can contract it: admissible holder, supply within technical limits, and contract with a reference retailer.

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What is the electricity price in the cheapest time slot for the regulated PVPC tariff on October 31?

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In which time slot is the highest price of the day recorded for the regulated PVPC tariff according to Vico?

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What should a user check before reorganizing electricity consumption to take advantage of the cheapest hours?

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