20/01/2026

On 16 January 2026, ERSE - Energy Services Regulatory Authority held a ConvERSE initiative to discuss the proposal to update times in the electricity sector in mainland Portugal. This proposal is open for public consultation until 23 January 2026.

Around 315 people attended the hybrid event online and around 75 people attended in person. Pedro Verdelho, the president of ERSE, led the opening session, and Isabel Apolinário, the administrator of ERSE, led the closing session.

ERSE presented a summary of the consultation proposal (CP No. 137), which aims to adapt time periods to changing patterns of electricity consumption and production in the current context of energy transition. This will promote the more efficient use of networks and ensure a better match between time periods and the actual usage profile of the electricity system. It should be noted that the methodology for determining time period locations and the assumptions for simplification and adaptation to cycles are also under consultation.

ConvERSE provided an opportunity to discuss some of these proposals and gather the views of suppliers, who play a key role in helping their customers choose the most suitable tariff for their consumption profile, as well as adapting their commercial offers. The event also provided a platform for network operators to share their insights on the impact on network management and planning, as well as the implementation of the new time periods. Regarding the views of domestic and industrial consumers, who are central to this process, the discussion covered the opportunities and challenges of optimising bills and consumption profiles by taking price signals into account, as well as the need for information and communication on this matter. Overall, the importance of customers managing their consumption profiles was emphasised as one of the flexibility tools available to promote lower bills, better network utilisation and, consequently, deferral of investments and cost reductions for all.

The competent authorities, namely the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) and the European Commission, have debated time periods at European level and issued recommendations on electricity network tariffs, including the adoption of time-of-use pricing. Professor Carlos Batlle, an internationally renowned figure in the field of energy economic regulation and a professor at the University of Comillas in Madrid and the Florence School of Regulation, shared his insights and addressed the change in time periods in Spain in particular.

 Watch the video

Access the available presentations:

“End-user tariff design time granularity -Theoretical and practical lessons to be learnt
(focus on the residential side)” – Carlos Batlle – Comillas University, Spain, and Florence School of Regulation

“Time periods in the electricity sector in mainland Portugal - Presentation of Public Consultation Proposal No. 137” - Daniel Horta, ERSE

“Update of Time Periods in mainland Portugal - Perspective of domestic consumers” – Ingride Pereira, DECO

“Time periods in the electricity sector in mainland Portugal – E–REDES perspective” – António Amorim, E-REDES

“The Portuguese System needs more flexibility, an objective in which Suppliers play a central role” - António Vidigal, Consultant in the areas of Energy and ICT