Many people rely on electric heating. This has caused some concern over the past couple of years as costs have escalated and there have been some confusing changes to charging policy. However, there has recently been some good news as far as your bills are concerned. Instead of every month, there will be a welcome return to two-monthly billing and only after a metre reading has taken place.
The alternating meter/estimate bills have been something of a nightmare for people trying to budget. One month you can be charged a nominal figure of 7€ to receive a bill the month after of 100€! Hardly helpful when you’re trying to keep your bank account in the black. However, if you actually preferred the monthly yo-yo system you will still be able to pay that way.
The resumption of bi-monthly payments for electricity does not apply to everyone. Some people opted to enter the ‘free market’ at the end of 2010. This means that they have already been paying their bills every two months but at a rate established by the market. If you chose this method you can still revert to the fixed rate model set by the government if you prefer, or vice versa.
The good news here in Spain (and yes, there is some) is that winters may be chilly but they don’t last long. We’ll soon be putting the jeans into storage (northern Europeans at least) and searching out the shorts and t-shirts. However, we can always find a new problem to overcome. For the rest of the year ex-pats in Spain are working out how best to keep cool.
Good news! But I think you mean “meter” there, even in British English 😉
Yes thank god for common sense, the estimated bills have been a nightmare. I have been charged 250 one month then 50 the next. What a rip off !!