Rising energy costs have pushed household expenditures higher since the Ukraine war began. Higher bills are stretching family budgets, especially for households with limited resources. This has pushed many homes to adopt energy-saving measures, aligned with government recommendations to curb national energy consumption.
Specifically, the Energy bill at home survey by Mutual Owners shows Valencia community families currently allocating up to 12% of their income to energy costs, averaging around 209 euros per month. Source: Mutual Owners research report, 2024.
To be precise, the report indicates that households in Alicante, Castellón, and Valencia pay an electric bill of about 76.59 euros monthly. Gas costs for the home average 24.33 euros, while gasoline for commuting represents the largest expense, with about 107.63 euros per month spent on fuel. These figures come from the same survey and reflect typical monthly spending across these provinces. Source: Mutual Owners survey 2024.
More than half of Alicante’s gas stations again price diesel above two euros per liter
Yet the study underscores that these costs are especially hard on households with lower incomes. For vulnerable families, energy spending can reach as much as 25% of monthly income. Source: Mutual Owners survey 2024.
Austerity measures
Facing the prospect of a harsh winter, 69% of Valencians say they are ready to follow government guidance or Plan +SE, which aims to boost household resilience against energy price fluctuations and provide greater security for energy costs. Source: government plan documentation and regional surveys.
Officials note that households and owner communities can improve efficiency and conserve resources through smarter energy use. Laura Lopez, Deputy General Manager of Mutua Propietarios Group, which oversees Strategy, Customers and Alternative Channels, emphasizes this shift toward responsible consumption. Source: Mutua Propietarios Group statements.
Electricity ends October at its lowest price in over a year
Households report adopting several habits to curb consumption, including closing curtains at night (88%), turning off heating during sleep (82%), and maintaining indoor temperatures between 19 and 21 degrees Celsius (76%). Fewer households will switch to public transport or adjust thermostats to 15 degrees when away, with around 60% expressing willingness to do so. Source: household surveys conducted by regional energy offices.
Lots of LEDs and few solar panels
Valencians are actively pursuing efficiency, focusing on practical, faster returns. Major improvements include LED lighting upgrades (80%), energy-efficient appliances (58%), better window insulation (46%), and the installation of awnings (55%). Investments promising longer-term returns such as solar panel installation (1%), electric car chargers (2%), or aerothermal systems (4%) are less common but growing. Source: regional energy efficiency report.
Rising energy costs affect not only households but also communities. Although 52% of Valencians report no quota increases, 27% report increases elsewhere, translating to an average addition of about 380 euros per year per household in community expenses, or roughly 31.6 euros more each month. Source: community finance surveys.
Research shows six in ten communities pursued energy improvements in the last two years. Lighting upgrades (37%), roof rehabilitation (28%), and façade improvements (23%) were the top actions for residential buildings. Fewer communities pursued energy recovery measures, with only 16% applying for aid or subsidies and 10% receiving them. The gap between communities with and without property managers is evident, as those with managers double the concession rate from 5% to 11%. Source: regional energy study.
Awareness of energy-recovery aid remains low. The same survey found only 18% of Spaniards believe their community knows about European funds for energy rehabilitation. Source: Energy bill at home survey, 2024.