El Electricity price today, February 23, 2026 in Spain It is marked by strong volatility throughout the day. wholesale market Prices rise sharply during peak hours, while at midday they even reach negative prices, opening up an interesting window for those who can adapt their consumption.
According to the data of the Operator of the Iberian Energy Market (OMIE) and from Red Eléctrica de España (REE), the day combines a notable increase in average daily cost Compared to the previous day, there was a very marked contrast between the cheapest and most expensive hours. Organizing your appliance usage according to these time slots can make a significant difference to your bill.
Average electricity price today and market context
In the wholesale market, the average price of electricity for this Monday February 23 It is located around € 34,83 / MWh, which represents an increase of approximately 56,8% compared to the previous day in the SPOT market environment. This increase reflects a more strained market, especially in the afternoon and evening.
If we look at the regulated reference, the PVPC for February 23, 2026 is placed around € 143,37 / MWh on average for consumers on regulated or indexed tariffs in the free market. This value implies a rise of nearly 38,4% compared to Sunday, with an average increase of almost 40 euros per MWh.
It is worth remembering that the SPOT price published by OMIE at midday is one of the basic components on which the daily PVPC is calculatedbut does not include tolls, system charges, or other adjustments. These items are incorporated later, resulting in the final price of electricity paid by the regulated user, generally higher than the pure wholesale reference.
Red Eléctrica de España usually publish the PVPC hourly details the previous day around the 20: 15-20: 30 hoursUntil that point, only the behavior of the wholesale market is known, which serves as a guide but does not yet reflect the final bill.
Peak electricity rates today, February 23, 2026
Starting at 18 pm The increase is clearly noticeable. Among the 18: 00 and 19: 00 hours The MWh is paid at about € 71,41 / MWh, then go up to €120,07/MWh between 19:00 PM and 20:00 PM And, after the peak at 20:00-21:00 PM, the price remains very high. 21 am to 00 am, with around € 110,76 / MWh.
If you look at the final PVPC priceThe pattern is similar but with higher figures when tolls and charges are included. peak of the regulated tariff It also focuses on 20 am to 00 am, with a price around € 357,53 / MWhJust before, between the 19: 00 and 20: 00 hoursThe cost is already very high, with nearly € 301,11 / MWhand it remains high 21:00 - 22:00, when it hovers around € 289,28 / MWh.
In summary, the section between the 18: 00 and 22: 00 hours brings together the most expensive hours for electricity todayThis applies to both SPOT and PVPC tariffs. Reducing the use of large appliances during these periods (washing machine, dryer, oven, ceramic hob, etc.) is a basic strategy to avoid a shock on your bill.
Cheapest electricity hours today: when is the best time to use it
The other side of the coin occurs in the central hours of the day, when the wholesale market It even reaches negative territoryThe most advantageous range is between the 12: 00 and 13: 00 hours, with a price of -1,15 €/MWh, the minimum for the entire day.
Very close to that record are other midday periods: 13 am to 00 am the price remains around -1,08 €/MWh, 14:00 - 15:00 drops to approximately -1,00 €/MWh and between 11: 00 and 12: 00 hours Negative values ​​are still observed, around -0,37 €/MWhThe period also stands out 15:00-16:00, With -0,75 €/MWh, And of 16:00-17:00, which is close to zero.
These data indicate that, during almost the entire stretch between the 10: 00 and 17: 00 hours, the The wholesale cost of electricity is minimal or even negativeIn practice, this makes midday and the early afternoon the best time to concentrate intensive consumption if you have a market-indexed tariff.
In the case of the PVPC (Voluntary Price for Small Consumers), the lowest-cost hours also coincide with the least congested periods of the day. The period of 14 am to 00 am, with a price close to the € 75,22 / MWhThese values ​​are significantly below the daily average. While not as low as in the wholesale market, they are the most reasonable within the regulated structure.
Electricity price today, February 23, 2026, hour by hour (wholesale market)
To plan consumption in detail, it is useful to review the Today's hourly electricity price in the Spanish wholesale marketThese are the approximate values ​​published for the SPOT on February 23, 2026:
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00:00-01:00: €23,89/MWh
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01:00-02:00: €19,64/MWh
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02:00-03:00: €17,61/MWh
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03:00-04:00: €11,66/MWh
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04:00-05:00: €9,81/MWh
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05:00-06:00: €18,03/MWh
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06:00-07:00: €24,23/MWh
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07:00-08:00: €60,07/MWh
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08:00-09:00: €60,69/MWh
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09:00-10:00: €13,20/MWh
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10:00-11:00: €0,23/MWh
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11:00-12:00-€0,37/MWh
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12:00-13:00-€1,15/MWh
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13:00-14:00-€1,08/MWh
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14:00-15:00-€1,00/MWh
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15:00-16:00-€0,75/MWh
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16:00-17:00-€0,05/MWh
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17:00-18:00: €18,07/MWh
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18:00-19:00: €71,41/MWh
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19:00-20:00: €120,07/MWh
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20:00-21:00: €175,13/MWh
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21:00-22:00: €110,76/MWh
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22:00-23:00: €54,16/MWh
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23:00-24:00: €31,56/MWh
Although these amounts do not yet include tolls or regulated chargesThey allow you to get a quick idea of ​​when the system is under the most strain and in which sections energy is more affordable on the wholesale market.
Price of electricity per hour in the regulated PVPC tariff
For those who have contracted the regulated tariff (PVPC) or an indexed tariff in the free marketThe final price includes, in addition to the spot price, access tolls, system charges, and other adjustment costs. This makes the prices higher than the wholesale benchmark, although the structure of peak and off-peak hours remains the same.
These are some of the main sections of the PVPC for Monday, February 23, 2026 In Spain, according to preliminary data from Red Eléctrica:
- 00:00-01:00: €95,20/MWh
- 01:00-02:00: €92,30/MWh
- 02:00-03:00: €92,75/MWh
- 03:00-04:00: €87,50/MWh
- 04:00-05:00: €84,50/MWh
- 05:00-06:00: €90,10/MWh
- 06:00-07:00: €92,46/MWh
- 07:00-08:00: €154,02/MWh
- 08:00-09:00: €175,01/MWh
- 09:00-10:00: €96,83/MWh
- 10:00-11:00: €145,26/MWh
- 11:00-12:00: €144,83/MWh
- 12:00-13:00: €144,44/MWh
- 13:00-14:00: €144,04/MWh
- 14:00-15:00: €75,22/MWh
- 15:00-16:00: €75,91/MWh
- 16:00-17:00: €77,45/MWh
- 17:00-18:00: €100,67/MWh
- 18:00-19:00: €244,68/MWh
- 19:00-20:00: €301,11/MWh
- 20:00-21:00: €357,53/MWh
- 21:00-22:00: €289,28/MWh
- 22:00-23:00: €155,57/MWh
- 23:00-24:00: €124,15/MWh
As can be seen, the PVPC presents high amounts for practically the entire daywith particular tension during the morning rush hour and, especially, the late afternoon and evening. Even so, there is some respite in the early hours of the morning and during some periods around midday and early afternoon, where prices drop to more moderate levels.
Best time to run the washing machine and other appliances
With such an uneven playing field, choosing the right time to turn on high-consumption appliances can lead to significant savings at the end of the month. According to wholesale market data, the best time to do the washing machine today is the section of 12 am to 00 am, when the price falls to -1,15 €/MWh.
The following color bands are also particularly recommended: 13 am to 00 am, with similarly negative prices, and the hours immediately before and after, among the 11:00 and 16:00In that time slot, the The cost of electricity is minimal in the wholesale marketThis benefits both users with indexed tariffs and, in part, those with PVPC tariffs.
If you have some flexibility, ideally you should reserve the use of washing machine, dishwasher, dryer or oven for those central time slots of the day and avoid, as far as possible, the stretch of 18 am to 00 amwhere prices skyrocket.
Recent trends and forecasts: Will the price of electricity continue to rise?
The evolution of the last few days indicates a upward trend in the average price of electricityWith increases in both the SPOT and PVPC rates compared to the weekend. However, accurately predicting what will happen in the coming days is not easy, as the market depends on factors such as demand, renewable energy production, gas costs, and the performance of other European countries.
What the data from these weeks does show is a fairly stable pattern: Prices are usually lower on weekends than on working days, both in the wholesale market and in regulated tariffs. Take advantage Saturdays and Sundays to concentrate consumption Using certain household appliances can still be a good tactic for those who can adapt their routines.
It is also noticeable that the central hours of the day They tend to be the most competitive on many days, especially when there is abundant renewable energy generation (solar and wind). In contrast, the early morning hours and the late afternoon/evening period They tend to be more strained, with prices significantly higher than average.
Tips for saving money at home even if electricity prices rise
Beyond watching the clock, there are efficiency measures that can help curb consumption even when the electricity price risesLarge household appliances account for a significant portion of the bill, so it's worth optimizing their use.
In the kitchen, the refrigerator and freezer These are two of the appliances that consume the most kilowatts, as they operate 24 hours a day. To reduce their impact, it is advisable make good use of interior spaceKeep the refrigerator temperature between 4 and 6 degrees, avoid opening the door more than necessary, and keep the appliance away from heat sources such as the oven, radiators, or very sunny windows.
El dishwasher It also has room for improvement. Switching to a economic program of about 50 ºC Instead of always opting for cycles of 60°C or higher, you can significantly reduce energy consumption. It's preferable to wait until the appliance is completely full before turning it on and avoid overusing the half-load program, which doesn't reduce energy consumption as much as you might think.
In the case of the washing machine and dryerThe most efficient way is to use cold water programs or at the lowest viable temperature and select a spin cycle intense enough to shorten the drying time. If you plan to iron the clothes afterward, you can stop the dryer a few minutes before the end and use the residual moisture to finish the cycle without consuming as much electricity.
In the living room, the TV It can become a small energy drain if it's left on for many hours unattended or constantly in standby mode. The most efficient thing to do is Turn it off completely when not in use and unplug it from the power supply instead of leaving it on standby, as that mode maintains continuous power consumption.
Something similar happens with others small appliances that generate heatlike the food processor, iron, or hairdryer. Even if they are used for shorter periods, their power is high and their impact on the bill is not negligible. Using them in the cheapest electricity hours And avoiding turning them on unnecessarily also helps to reduce overall household expenses.
The price of electricity in Spain within the European context
The Spanish electricity system does not operate in isolation. electricity prices in other European countriesEspecially in interconnected markets such as France, Portugal or Germany, they influence the SPOT configuration and cross-border clearing on a daily basis.
When neighboring countries cross peak demand or an increase in the cost of their own sources of generationThis pressure may partially shift to the Iberian Peninsula, raising the marginal price of energy. Conversely, a good availability of renewables or lower demand in Europe usually favors a more moderate price environment.
That is why, although Spanish consumers today see a strong contrast between the hours with negative prices and the periods above €170/MWh In the wholesale market, some of that volatility is due to a shared scenario at the continental level, in which electricity markets are becoming increasingly coordinated.
The events of February 23, 2026, ultimately leave... a bright day with great ups and downsVery low prices during the middle of the day, a sharp increase in the late afternoon and evening, and a regulated electricity price (PVPC) significantly higher than the previous day's average. Those who manage to shift the bulk of their consumption to the cheapest hours—especially around midday and during certain early morning periods—will be better positioned to mitigate the impact of an energy market that, at least for now, remains volatile.
