El Today's electricity price, Friday, February 27, 2026, brings a respite for consumers on the regulated market and those with indexed tariffs.The average cost of wholesale market (the well-known 'pool') It stands at €20,10/MWh, a figure clearly lower than the previous day and which remains within the lower range in which electricity has moved in recent weeks.
This price level means that energy is paid for around 26% cheaper than on Thursdaywhen the megawatt-hour cost around €27,38. Even so, It is worth remembering that this data corresponds to the wholesale market (OMIE) and do not include tolls, charges or the other regulated items that are added to the final bill of the PVPC tariff or other indexed modalities.
Average electricity price today and its relationship to the PVPC (Voluntary Price for Small Consumers).
According to records from the Iberian Energy Market Operator (OMIE), The average SPOT price for this Friday is €20,1/MWhThis represents a decrease of approximately 26,6% compared to the previous session. This value is the basis on which the calculation is made. daily price of the regulated tariff (PVPC)although it is not the final amount that the consumer will see on their receipt.
To find out the actual cost that will be applied to each kilowatt hour consumed, It is necessary to wait for Red Eléctrica de España to publish the final PVPC prices.This update usually occurs the day before, approximately between 20: 15 and 20: 30 hours, at which point the amounts including all regulated components can be consulted.
In any case, today's average pool value confirms a recent trend: Electricity prices have been fluctuating within a relatively narrow range, neither falling below €20/MWh nor rising above €35/MWh in recent weeks.This makes planning consumption somewhat easier, although the differences between time periods remain very marked.
If we compare Friday's behavior with that of seven days ago, The wholesale market appears less strained than last weekFurthermore, for the first 27 days of February, the average price was around €16,02/MWh, well below the levels reached in the same period of the previous year.
In year-on-year terms, the contrast is remarkable: Electricity today costs 83% less than it will on February 27, 2025.when the 'pool' price was around 120,43 euros/MWh. This translates into a saving of just over 100 euros per megawatt hour when comparing both dates.
Hourly electricity prices today, February 27th
The day presents un strong contrast between the middle hours of the daywith values ​​at zero or even negative, and the late afternoon-evening period, where the highest peaks are concentratedThis disparity opens the door to significant savings for those who can shift part of their consumption to cheaper hours.
The following is a summary of the SPOT price for the wholesale market in Spain today, Friday, according to official OMIE data, expressed in euros per megawatt hour (€/MWh):
- 00:00 – 01:00: €20,07/MWh
- 01:00 – 02:00: €10,93/MWh
- 02:00 – 03:00: €11,62/MWh
- 03:00 – 04:00: €10,49/MWh
- 04:00 – 05:00: €9,70/MWh
- 05:00 – 06:00: €11,35/MWh
- 06:00 – 07:00: €22,90/MWh
- 07:00 – 08:00: €33,76/MWh
- 08:00 – 09:00: €29,34/MWh
- 09:00 – 10:00: €14,40/MWh
- 10:00 – 11:00: €2,90/MWh
- 11:00 – 12:00: €0,00/MWh
- 12:00 – 13:00: €0,00/MWh
- 13:00 – 14:00: -0,01 €/MWh
- 14:00 – 15:00: €0,00/MWh
- 15:00 – 16:00: €0,24/MWh
- 16:00 – 17:00: €5,91/MWh
- 17:00 – 18:00: €16,29/MWh
- 18:00 – 19:00: €31,40/MWh
- 19:00 – 20:00: €62,93/MWh
- 20:00 – 21:00: €73,59/MWh
- 21:00 – 22:00: €55,31/MWh
- 22:00 – 23:00: €33,80/MWh
- 23:00 – 24:00: €25,54/MWh
This breakdown makes it clear that The cheapest window is concentrated between 11:00 and 15:00 hourswith several periods at €0,00/MWh and a slightly negative minimum in the early afternoon. Conversely, The price jump occurs at the end of the day, especially between 19:00 PM and 21:00 PM..
Cheapest electricity hours today
The most affordable time slot of the day is clearly in the central part of the dayIn particular, the wholesale market registers its Daily minimum between 13:00 and 14:00, with a price of -0,01 €/MWhAlthough this value is negative, it is important to emphasize that the final bill will never be less than zero, since charges, tolls and other regulated items must be added.
In addition to the negative price in the early afternoon, The hours from 11:00 to 12:00, from 12:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 15:00 are set at €0,00/MWhforming a block of several consecutive hours at a virtually symbolic cost on the wholesale market. Also of particular interest are the 10:00 (€2,90/MWh) and 15:00 (€0,24/MWh), which extend that period of very low prices from mid-morning to mid-afternoon.
In total, There are up to 18 time slots with very low prices or directly at zero.spread across the early morning, morning, and afternoon. This offers many possibilities for reorganizing the use of large appliances, provided daily habits allow it.
If the goal is to optimize consumption as much as possible, Scheduling high energy consumption tasks — such as running the washing machine, dishwasher or dryer — between 11:00 and 15:00 is the most advantageous option.Within that window, the optimal time to use these devices is between 13:00 and 14:00, when the marginal price of the 'pool' reaches its lowest level of the day.
Most expensive electricity hours today
At the other end, The highest fares are concentrated in the late afternoon/evening periodThe daily peak arrives from From 20:00 PM to 21:00 PM, when the megawatt hour reaches 73,59 euros, making it the least recommended time slot for intensive consumption.
Before that peak, the price increase begins to be noticeable from the 18:00 (€31,40/MWh) and it consolidates from the 19:00, with €62,93/MWhFurthermore, the price remains high throughout the from 21:00 PM to 22:00 PM, when it stands at €55,31/MWhThis three-hour block, approximately between 19:00 p.m. and 22:00 p.m., is the one that accumulates the highest costs of the entire day.
You also have to keep in mind that The early morning hours show a slight increaseFrom 7:00 to 8:00 the price rises to €33,76/MWh and from 8:00 to 9:00 it remains at €29,34/MWh. Although these are far from the nighttime peaks, they are clearly higher than those observed during the middle of the day.
Therefore, It is advisable to moderate the use of high-consumption appliances between 19:00 pm and 21:00 pm.as well as avoiding, as far as possible, concentrating many electrical tasks in the early morning, when demand is usually high and the cost responds upwards.
Best time to use major household appliances
With today's pricing structure, The best energy-saving strategy involves shifting the most energy-intensive tasks to the period between 11:00 and 15:00.During that period, the combination of hours at €0,00/MWh and the slightly negative value of the 13:00-14:00 slot makes the wholesale cost extraordinarily low.
If you are looking for the most advantageous specific time, The recommendation is to program the washing machine for 13:00.When the market rate is -€0,01/MWh, these are also very favorable times. 11:00, 12:00 and 14:00, all with a marginal price of €0,00/MWh, ideal for distributing the use of washing machine, dishwasher or dryer without accumulating all consumption at once.
In contrast, It's not a good idea to turn on several high-consumption appliances between 19:00 pm and 21:00 pm.This is the period when electricity prices are at their highest. In practice, this means it's best to avoid using the washing machine, oven, and dryer at the same time late in the evening, as the cost per kilowatt-hour will be significantly higher.
For those who have delayed start capabilities on their appliances, Taking advantage of off-peak hours at midday makes it easier to coordinate schedules without having to worry about pressing a button at the last minute.And, if photovoltaic self-consumption is available, aligning these uses with the hours of greatest solar generation further reinforces the savings.
Relationship with the European wholesale market and the new calculation of the PVPC
Although the main focus is on the Spanish market, Electricity prices in other European countries indirectly influence the evolution of the coming days.The continent's electrical systems are interconnected, and when generation costs decrease in other markets due to increased renewable production or lower demand, this effect can be transferred, albeit with some delay, to the Iberian market.
Moreover, The 'pool' price no longer alone determines the final cost of the PVPC tariffSince 2024, a new calculation method has been applied that incorporates references from the electricity futures markets, with the aim of smoothing out the sharpest fluctuations resulting from daily clearing.
This system is being introduced gradually: In 2024, forward prices represented approximately 25% of the PVPC calculation; by 2025 they have come to represent around 40% and From 2026 onwards they will rise to 55%In this way, the portion directly linked to the daily market is reduced, which mitigates the impact of occasional episodes of very high or very low prices.
In practice, this means that Hours with zero or negative prices in the wholesale market are not literally passed on to the regulated consumer's bill.Although the hourly signal remains important to encourage efficient consumption, the final bill reflects a weighted average that incorporates both spot prices and futures references.
Why electricity is usually cheaper on weekends
Today's behavior falls into a pattern that is repeated quite frequently: The cheapest days for electricity consumption are usually weekends and, to a lesser extent, Fridays.The main explanation lies in demand: when industrial and commercial activity decreases, the need for energy falls and the price tends to moderate.
In terms of household organization, this means that Scheduling certain high-consumption tasks for Saturdays and Sundays can help lower your bill.This is especially true in households with indexed or regulated electricity rates that reflect hourly market fluctuations. Concentrating some laundry, dishwasher use, or oven cooking on those days is often a cost-effective strategy.
However, even on days with low average prices, It is common for electricity to follow a pattern of ups and downs throughout the dayTherefore, reviewing specific time slots—such as those on February 27—remains key to identifying when it is truly worthwhile to turn on each appliance.
In any case, Market volatility makes it very difficult to accurately predict the evolution of electricity prices beyond a few days.Factors such as weather, available renewable generation, gas costs, or industrial demand can quickly alter the price curve, so it's advisable to keep an eye on daily updates.
Tips to avoid skyrocketing your bill when electricity prices rise
Although the market today offers clear savings opportunities, Scenarios with so many cheap or zero-euro hours don't always occur.Therefore, beyond taking advantage of off-peak hours, it is important to apply some consumption guidelines that help keep energy expenditure under control throughout the year.
In the kitchen, one of the appliances that most influences the bill is the refrigerator-freezer, which can account for nearly a third of a household's electricity consumptionSetting the thermostat to a suitable temperature (between 4 and 6 °C in the refrigerator), avoiding opening the door more than necessary, and placing it away from heat sources such as the oven or a radiator are simple actions that reduce energy use.
El Dishwashers also offer savings if eco or low-temperature programs are used, around 50°C instead of 60°C.According to studies by consumer organizations, using economy cycles and reserving intensive programs only for heavily soiled dishes can cut electricity costs by up to 20%. Likewise, it is more efficient to fill the dishwasher completely before starting it than to frequently run it half-full.
In the case of the Washing machine and dryer: opt for cold washes or the lowest possible temperature and take advantage of a high spin cycle It also helps to control consumption. If you plan to iron afterwards, it's best to interrupt the drying cycle a little earlier and let the clothes finish drying with the residual heat or in the air, thus reducing the dryer's operating time.
Other daily habits, such as Avoid leaving the television on standby or turn off electronic devices completely when not in useThey may seem small, but they add up at the end of the month. A television or entertainment device that is always plugged in can consume a significant amount of energy even if it is only switched on for a few hours a day.
As to With an electric oven, it's best to make the most of the heat it generates.It's not necessary to preheat it for long cooking times; it's best not to open the door constantly to check on the food, and it's usually enough to turn it off a few minutes before the end of cooking to use the residual heat. Small appliances, especially those that produce heat (such as irons, hair dryers, or powerful food processors), can also consume a significant amount of energy if used intensively.
Lighting continues to be another important area, although the advancement of LED technology has greatly reduced costs. Replacing incandescent or halogen bulbs with LEDs allows you to save up to 85% of the energy used for lighting.In addition to significantly extending the lifespan of lamps, making the most of natural light and turning off lights in empty rooms remains, despite its simplicity, one of the most effective recommendations.
With all of the above, the situation this Friday paints a clear picture: a low average wholesale market price, a central block of the day with extraordinarily reduced rates —including a segment with a negative value— and a peak concentrated in the afternoon-evening hours of highest demandOrganizing household consumption around these time signals and applying basic energy efficiency measures allows you to make the most of a day that is especially favorable for your wallet within the current electricity context.
