The state is acting to improve transparency in electricity bills by explaining to consumers what the measures mean in practice. It highlights the real impact of steps like the Iberian exception and provides clear consumption information along with practical tips and messages to save energy. This plan is one of the measures included in the Emergency Plan, designed by the Executive to lessen the effects of the war in Ukraine, as reported by Teresa Ribera, the third vice president and Minister for Ecological Transition, and Alberto Garzón, the minister for consumer affairs, alongside consumer organizations.
A spokesperson for the Consumers and Users Organization explains that the goal is to establish a formula for increasing transparency and to present savings suggestions on each invoice. Henry Garcia, who attended the meeting, noted that the executive outlined the plan’s main axes and some of its measures. The document remains open to adjustments and is not set in stone; it will be monitored as a follow-up to evaluate its effectiveness, according to Garcia.
In one section, the plan signals a shift in how invoices are presented to consumers who pay at the end of the month. It calls for two parallel actions guided by consumer organizations. First, to facilitate practical steps that households can take immediately to reduce consumption, lower energy payments, and protect the most vulnerable. Second, to provide clearer, more reliable information about the final price paid and what future bills will look like without requiring further government intervention.
Criticism from associations such as OCU and Facua centers on the way invoices currently reflect the price signals. They point to elements like the ceiling price for gas compensation that masks how much a consumer saves on a monthly bill, owing to the lack of clear visibility on tax deductions, toll discounts, and the impact of the gas price cap on the electricity market price overall.
Ribera argued that the bill price is significantly lower than what would be expected without the government measures. She noted that the observed prices are consistent with the intended effects of the policy, though the full extent of savings remains a topic of discussion. The discussion covered both the regulated and the free electricity markets. In the regulated market, the government’s invoice design remains uniform across marketers, while in the free market a minimum required content is being considered; electricity companies would be required to include this information in their invoices.