The wholesale market opened this Friday, October 3, with a slight price increase compared to the previous day: the average price is €93,25/MWh , representing an 8,19% increase compared to Thursday (€86,19/MWh), according to OMIE data. You can compare this trend with Thursday, September 25.
Compared to a year ago, electricity was more expensive ( €108,44/MWh ), so today it's about €15,19 cheaper. Remember that this is a wholesale market price; see the megawatt price evolution for context and it doesn't include taxes, tolls, or charges ; the final price for PVPC consumers is published by Red Eléctrica de España at the end of the day.
When is electricity cheapest today?
The most affordable time slot is mid-afternoon, between 15:00 PM and 16:00 PM , at a cost of €38,23/MWh . Other favorable times to keep in mind are: 14:00 PM–15:00 PM (€39,12/MWh) , 13:00 PM–14:00 PM (€39,13/MWh) , 12:00 PM–13:00 PM (€41,79/MWh) , and 16:00 PM–17:00 PM (€44,10/MWh) . Also, consult our guides on the cheapest and most expensive times for better planning.
If you need to use high-consumption appliances (washing machine, dryer, oven, or dishwasher), taking advantage of off-peak hours helps to keep your bill down and better distribute demand across the electrical grid. Also, check out our articles on why electricity bills keep rising to understand market trends.
When is electricity most expensive?
Electricity prices peak between 20:00 PM and 21:00 PM , reaching €138,76/MWh . Other high-priced periods include 21:00 PM-22:00 PM (€134,48/MWh) , 08:00 AM-09:00 AM (€132,44/MWh) , 22:00 PM-23:00 PM (€120,81/MWh) , and 19:00 PM-20:00 PM (€119,98/MWh) . Avoid the late afternoon and evening hours on peak days whenever possible .
On days with many price ranges above €100/MWh , it is crucial to avoid the late afternoon and evening hours whenever possible and shift consumption to cheaper times to achieve tangible savings.
Hourly electricity price (Friday, October 3)
See below for the 24 time slots with their associated price to plan your usage precisely and avoid the busiest times of the day.
- 00:00–01:00: € 116,68 / MWh
- 01:00–02:00: 112,61 €/MWh
- 02:00–03:00: 105,50 €/MWh
- 03:00–04:00: 104,06 €/MWh
- 04:00–05:00: 104,04 €/MWh
- 05:00–06:00: 106,18 €/MWh
- 06:00–07:00: 110,61 €/MWh
- 07:00–08:00: 124,45 €/MWh
- 08:00–09:00: € 132,44 / MWh
- 09:00–10:00: 115,58 €/MWh
- 10:00–11:00: 69,88 €/MWh
- 11:00–12:00: 49,70 €/MWh
- 12:00–13:00: 41,79 €/MWh
- 13:00–14:00: 39,13 €/MWh
- 14:00–15:00: 39,12 €/MWh
- 15:00–16:00: € 38,23 / MWh
- 16:00–17:00: 44,10 €/MWh
- 17:00–18:00: 58,39 €/MWh
- 18:00–19:00: 94,91 €/MWh
- 19:00–20:00: 119,98 €/MWh
- 20:00–21:00: € 138,76 / MWh
- 21:00–22:00: 134,48 €/MWh
- 22:00–23:00: 120,81 €/MWh
- 23:00–24:00: 116,50 €/MWh
PVPC: how it is calculated and why it varies
Since 2023, the regulated PVPC tariff has incorporated a basket of medium- and long-term prices in addition to the hourly reference price from the daily market. In 2025, the weight of futures markets will be 40% (it was 25% in 2024 and will rise to 55% in 2026), which mitigates sharp fluctuations without diminishing the incentive for efficient consumption.
Easy tricks to cut consumption at home
In addition to choosing the right time slot, some everyday habits help to spend less without losing comfort at home.
- Refrigerator and freezer: take advantage of their volume, set the thermostat to between 4°C and 6°C and avoid opening the door more than necessary; better away from heat sources.
- Dishwasher: prioritize the eco program (50 °C) and reserve the intensive option for tough dirt; filling the appliance yields notable savings.
- Washer and dryer: Use cycles with cold water and quick spinIf you're going to iron, finish drying a little earlier.
- Television and standby: turn it off completely when not in use; phantom consumption adds up without you noticing.
- Oven: avoid preheating for long cooking times, do not open the door and turn it off before to take advantage of the residual heat.
- Small appliances: those that generate heat (iron, hairdryer, food processor) concentrate the most electricity consumption.
With the average price at €93,25/MWh and significant peaks in the late afternoon and evening, the best strategy is to shift consumption to 12:00-16:00 , review habits, and consult the timetable to take advantage of off-peak hours and avoid the most expensive periods.
