ERSE opens a public consultation on the allocation for financing the costs of electricity social tariff for 2026
05/11/2025
ERSE - the Portuguese Energy Services Regulatory Authority, is launching a public consultation today on the proposed allocation for financing the costs of electricity social tariff in 2026, including adjustments of costs referring to 2024 and 2025.
According to the current wording of Decree-Law No. 15/2022, producers, suppliers and consumers operating directly in the wholesale market are obliged to finance the costs of the electricity social tariff.
The legislation also stipulates that the proposed allocation for financing these costs, must be submitted to public consultation. This gives financing agents the opportunity to provide feedback before ERSE makes its decision.
It is expected that the total cost of the electricity social tariff will amount €145 million in 2026, with the financing share remaining at around 1/3 for producers and 2/3 for suppliers.
In 2026, the financing of electricity social tariff by suppliers will be 0.21407 cEUR/kWh, which is higher than the current value of 0.16574 cEUR/kWh, but still below the 2024 value of 0.28930 cEUR/kWh.
As shown in the following figure, producers will support electricity social tariff costs at EUR 0.290 for each kVA connected to the network in 2026. This is higher than the current value of EUR 0.242/kVA, but still lower than that applied in 2024.
The observed increase in contributions from suppliers and producers is mainly due to the higher financing amount in 2026. However, it is also due to a deviation from the financing amount forecasted for the year 2025. This deviation has led to an adjustment that will be reflected in amounts borne by the financing agents in 2026.
Following the closure of this public consultation and consideration of the comments received, ERSE will approve a directive detailing the allocation for financing the costs of electricity social tariff in 2026, as well as adjustments of costs referring to 2024 and 2025, which will be covered by supply-side agents, i.e. producers and suppliers.
