Bono Social in Spain: How to Get Up to 65% Off Your Electricity Bill

Spain’s bono social de electricidad is one of the least-claimed benefits available to expat residents on the Costa del Sol. It is a government-mandated discount applied directly to your electricity bill — not a voucher, not a grant, not a one-time rebate. If you qualify, the percentage comes off every bill, automatically, for as long as your circumstances don’t change.

The scheme is regulated under Real Decreto 897/2017, de 6 de octubre, which defined the legal framework for vulnerable consumers, the bono social, and supply protection measures. It has been extended and modified multiple times since — most recently in early 2026, when the government confirmed elevated discount rates would continue through 31 December 2026.

This guide walks through exactly who qualifies, what documents you need, and the step-by-step application process — with specific attention to the situations that catch expats out.

What the Bono Social Actually Is

The bono social is a percentage discount on your electricity bill, applied to both the energy consumption element (€/kWh) and the power capacity charge (€/kW/day) up to a defined consumption limit per billing period. Consumption above that threshold is billed at the standard PVPC rate.

It is administered by your comercializadora de referencia (COR) — the regulated supplier for your area. In most of Andalucía and the Costa del Sol, the main CORs are:

• Endesa Energía XXI (the largest COR in southern Spain)
• Iberdrola Comercialización de Último Recurso
• Naturgy Iberia
• EDP Comercializadora de Último Recurso
• Repsol Electricidad y Gas

The COR does not choose — it is assigned based on your distribution zone. On the Costa del Sol, you are almost certainly in Endesa’s distribution area (E-Distribución). This means your COR is Endesa Energía XXI. If you’re currently on a free-market tariff with a different supplier, you still apply for bono social through the COR for your zone — not through your current supplier.

Current Discount Rates (2026)

The bono social has two tiers, corresponding to two levels of vulnerability as defined in RD 897/2017:

Category	Jan–Dec 2026 Rate	Base Rate (RD 897/2017)
Consumidor vulnerable	42.5% off	25% off
Consumidor vulnerable severo	57.5% off	40% off

The elevated rates are the result of emergency measures first introduced during the energy crisis following the Ukraine invasion, subsequently extended multiple times. The 2026 extension was confirmed by the Spanish government in February 2026. What happens after 31 December 2026 is, as of now, unknown — the pattern has been to extend, but you should not assume it will continue automatically at these rates.

If the government does not extend the emergency rates again, the bono social reverts to its statutory levels: 25% for vulnerable consumers and 40% for severely vulnerable consumers. These are still significant discounts — just not as generous as the current elevated rates.

The Consumption Cap: What the Discount Actually Covers

The bono social discount does not apply to your entire electricity consumption. It applies up to a monthly consumption threshold that varies by household size and is set by the Ministry (MITECO). Consumption above this cap is billed at the normal PVPC rate.

Typical thresholds (approximate, as updated periodically by MITECO):

• Single person: ~180 kWh/month
• Two people: ~221 kWh/month
• Three or more: ~277 kWh/month
• Households with a person with a recognised disability of 65%+: higher thresholds apply

The practical implication: if you’re a single person in a small apartment, the cap likely covers most of your real consumption. If you’re running air conditioning through the Málaga summer, you may exceed it. The discount still applies to consumption within the cap — you just pay standard rates on the overage.

Who Qualifies: The Full Eligibility Criteria

There are four baseline technical requirements that apply to everyone, plus a set of personal/income criteria where you need to meet at least one.

Baseline Technical Requirements (All Must Be Met)

1. You must be on the PVPC tariff (Precio Voluntario para el Pequeño Consumidor), also called the “tarifa regulada.” If you are on any free-market tariff — Holaluz, Octopus Energy Spain, Lucera, factor energía, or any other — you cannot apply until you switch to PVPC. See the section below on how to do this.
2. Your contracted potencia must be 10kW or less. Almost all domestic properties qualify. If you are above 10kW, you’re on a commercial-scale contract and the bono social does not apply.
3. The supply point must be your primary habitual residence (vivienda habitual). Holiday homes, rental investment properties, and second homes do not qualify.
4. Only one supply point per household unit. You cannot apply for multiple properties even if they are all primary residences of different household members.

Personal Eligibility: Meet at Least One of These Criteria

If you meet all four technical requirements above, you then need to satisfy at least one of the following personal circumstances:

1. Income Below the IPREM Threshold

Your annual household income (the combined income of all members of your unidad de convivencia — everyone registered at the same address) must not exceed 1.5 times the IPREM (Indicador Público de Renta de Efectos Múltiples), calculated using the 14-pagas figure.

In practical numbers for 2025–2026:

• Single person: approximately €12,600/year
• Two people: approximately €15,120/year (1.8× IPREM)
• Three people: approximately €17,640/year (2.1× IPREM)
• Each additional adult adds approximately 0.3× IPREM to the threshold

Note: the IPREM is updated annually in the State Budget. Check the current figure at sepe.es before applying. The thresholds listed here are based on the 2025–2026 IPREM values.

For severely vulnerable status (the higher discount tier), income must be at or below 50% of the vulnerable threshold — approximately €6,300 for a single person.

2. Minimum Pension Recipient

If you are receiving a Spanish minimum pension (pensión mínima) — either contributory or non-contributory — you automatically qualify for the income requirement. This includes recipients of the minimum invalidity pension and minimum widower’s pension.

3. Large Family (Familia Numerosa)

Any household with official título de familia numerosa (three or more children, or two children where at least one has a disability) qualifies automatically, regardless of income. The family must be registered in Spain and the título must be current (renewed every five years).

4. Disability of 33% or More

If the contract holder or any member of the household unit has an officially recognised disability of 33% or more (certificado de discapacidad), you qualify. The certificate must be issued by the relevant Spanish authority (IMSERSO or regional equivalent).

5. IMV (Ingreso Mínimo Vital) Recipient

Any household receiving IMV (Spain’s national minimum income guarantee, managed by Social Security) qualifies automatically. IMV status is strong evidence of severely vulnerable status for the purposes of the bono social.

6. Victim of Gender-Based Violence

Victims of domestic or gender-based violence (with official recognition — orden de protección or similar) qualify regardless of income.

7. Single-Parent Household with at Least One Minor

A single-parent household (one adult, one or more minor children) receives an increased income multiplier for the threshold calculation, making it easier to qualify on income grounds.

Expat-Specific Issues: What Trips People Up

Readers have reported that many expat residents — particularly retirees from the UK, Ireland, Germany, and the Netherlands — qualify on income grounds but don’t apply because they assume the bono social is only for Spanish nationals. It is not. Residence and NIE status are what matter, not nationality.

NIE Is Mandatory

You need a valid NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) for every member of your household to be included in the income calculation. A passport number alone is not accepted. If any household member does not yet have an NIE, their income may still be considered, but this requires specific documentation from their home country — and in practice, many CORs struggle to process applications with incomplete NIE data.

Empadronamiento Is Required

You must be registered on the padrón municipal (local population register) at the address where the electricity supply is located. The empadronamiento certificate must be recent — most CORs require one issued within the last 3 months. This is standard residency proof in Spain and also required for many other administrative procedures. If you are not yet empadronado, do this first — it is free and done at your local ayuntamiento (town hall) with your NIE and a lease agreement or utility bill.

Income From Abroad

If your income (pension, rental income, investment income) is from outside Spain and you do not file a Spanish tax return, you will need alternative income documentation. Options include:

• A certificate of pension entitlement from your home country’s pension authority (e.g., the UK’s Department for Work and Pensions), officially translated into Spanish (sworn translation, traducción jurada)
• A certificado de imputaciones or equivalent from your home country’s tax authority
• A letter from AEAT (Spanish tax authority) confirming you have not filed a Spanish tax return in the relevant year, plus your foreign income documentation

This is the most common friction point for expat applications. Readers have reported that Endesa’s customer service in Málaga accepts translated pension statements if they include the annual amount in euros. Use the average annual exchange rate for the relevant tax year when converting.

The Application Form Is in Spanish Only

There is no English version of the standard bono social application form. This is worth knowing in advance so you can prepare — either with a Spanish-speaking friend, your gestoría, or a translation tool. The form itself is not complex, but the sections covering income and household composition require precise completion.

How to Apply: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Confirm You Are on PVPC

Check your most recent electricity bill. Look for “Precio Voluntario para el Pequeño Consumidor” or “PVPC” on the bill. If it says “Mercado Libre” or the name of a free-market supplier (Holaluz, Octopus, Lucera, etc.) without PVPC designation, you are not on PVPC.

If you need to switch, see our guide on switching electricity suppliers in Spain. Switching to PVPC is free and processed by the distribuidora within 15–21 days. Once confirmed, you can apply for the bono social.

Step 2: Identify Your Comercializadora de Referencia

Your COR is not necessarily your current supplier — it is determined by your distribution zone. On most of the Costa del Sol (Málaga province), this is Endesa Energía XXI. You can confirm by checking the MITECO website or calling CNMC’s consumer line (900 929 009).

Step 3: Gather Your Documents

The standard document package for an expat applicant:

• DNI or NIE for all household members (photocopies accepted; bring originals if applying in person)
• Empadronamiento certificate (certificate of registration at the address) — issued within the last 3 months
• Income proof — for Spanish residents: last declaración de la renta (IRPF), or if you don’t file: a certificado de imputaciones from AEAT (downloadable from agenciatributaria.gob.es with a digital certificate or Cl@ve)
• For pension recipients abroad: official pension statement showing annual amount, with sworn Spanish translation
• For pension/disability/familia numerosa qualifying criteria: the relevant certificate (pensión mínima certificate from INSS, certificado de discapacidad, or título de familia numerosa)
• CUPS code — your supply point code, found on your electricity bill (starts with ES)
• Completed application form — available from your COR’s website or office, or from miteco.gob.es

Step 4: Submit Your Application

Submit to your COR (e.g., Endesa Energía XXI), not to MITECO directly. Options:

• Online: Endesa’s bono social portal at endesaclientes.com/bono-social — requires a digital certificate or DNI/NIE number for authentication
• By post: Send to the COR’s registered correspondence address (listed on their website)
• By email: Most CORs have a specific bono social email address — check their website
• In person: At a COR office if one exists near you. Endesa has customer offices in Málaga city; many municipalities have Endesa agent offices

Step 5: Wait for Processing

The COR is required by law to process applications within 15 business days (approximately 3 weeks). They will verify your PVPC status, your CUPS code, and the documents you’ve submitted.

If your application is approved, you will receive written confirmation (by email or post). The discount is applied automatically to your next bill after approval — you do not need to do anything further.

If your application is rejected, the COR must explain why in writing. Common rejection reasons: not on PVPC, income documentation incomplete, empadronamiento certificate too old, or potencia above 10kW. You have the right to appeal.

Step 6: Discount Applied Automatically

Once approved, the discount appears on your bill as a line item. You don’t activate it, you don’t claim it — it just applies. Check your first post-approval bill to confirm it has been applied correctly. The discount line should be clearly labelled as “Bono Social.”

Renewal: Don’t Forget This Step

The bono social is not permanent. It must be renewed when circumstances change, and at minimum when your COR requests a review — typically every two years.

The COR is supposed to contact you before your bono social status expires and request updated documentation. In practice, this does not always happen reliably. Readers have reported receiving renewal letters at short notice, and in some cases discovering after the fact that their discount had lapsed.

Best practice: note the date of your original approval. Set a calendar reminder for 18 months in. Contact your COR proactively to confirm your status and ask when renewal documentation will be needed.

If your circumstances change — household composition, income, moving address — you are required to notify your COR and update your application. Claiming the bono social based on outdated information is considered fraud under Spanish law.

What If You’re Currently on a Free-Market Tariff?

You cannot apply for bono social while on a free-market tariff. The process is:

1. Contact your current supplier and tell them you want to switch to PVPC with your COR. They are legally required to facilitate this and cannot charge you for it.
2. Alternatively, contact your COR directly (Endesa Energía XXI for most of Costa del Sol) and request a switch to PVPC. They will handle the process with your current supplier.
3. The switch takes 15–21 days to process.
4. Once confirmed on PVPC, submit your bono social application.

Note that PVPC is a regulated tariff tracking the wholesale electricity market — it fluctuates daily. For some households, particularly those with flexible usage patterns, PVPC can be cheaper than free-market fixed-rate tariffs. See our guide on PVPC vs fixed-rate tariffs in Spain for a full comparison.

Who Should Be Applying But Probably Isn’t

Three categories of expat residents on the Costa del Sol systematically underuse the bono social:

Retirees on Modest Foreign Pensions

UK state pension (approximately €12,000–13,000/year equivalent, depending on exchange rate) sits very close to the income threshold for a single person (≈€12,600). A full UK state pension recipient living alone may or may not qualify depending on the current rate and the IPREM value in a given year — but many do. Readers have reported being surprised to discover they fell under the threshold. If you receive a partial UK pension, or a modest private pension supplemented by savings drawdown, you are very likely to qualify.

German, Dutch, and Irish public pension amounts vary but many minimum or partial pensions also fall within range. The calculation is straightforward — take your total annual household income, compare it to 1.5× the current IPREM (14 pagas). If you’re below it, you meet the income criterion.

Single-Parent Expat Families

Single parents with children receive an enhanced income multiplier for bono social qualification. This is an often-missed pathway. Readers with one adult and one or two children at home have reported qualifying when they assumed they wouldn’t, because the threshold for their household type was higher than they expected.

IMV Recipients

Anyone receiving Spain’s Ingreso Mínimo Vital qualifies for bono social automatically and as a consumidor vulnerable severo — meaning the 57.5% discount, not just 42.5%. If you receive IMV and are not on bono social, this is a straightforward application with no income calculation needed.

Understanding Your Electricity Bill With Bono Social Applied

For context on how the discount appears on your bill and what the various line items mean, see our detailed guide on how to read your Spanish electricity bill.

The bono social discount applies to both the término de potencia (the standing capacity charge, paid per kW per day) and the término de energía (the per-kWh consumption charge), up to the consumption cap. VAT is calculated after the discount is applied, so you also save proportionally on the IVA element.

FAQ

Can I get the bono social if I don’t file a Spanish tax return?

Yes, but you need alternative income documentation. If you are a non-tax-resident in Spain or have income only from abroad, you can provide a certificado de imputaciones from AEAT (showing you have no Spanish income on record), together with official proof of your foreign income — typically a pension statement with a sworn Spanish translation. Some CORs also accept a declaration before a notary. Ask your COR what documentation they accept for foreign-income cases before applying.

Does the bono social apply to gas as well as electricity?

The bono social as described here is for electricity only. There is a separate gas social tariff scheme (bono social de gas) with different rules and a separate application. This guide covers electricity only.

What happens if my income goes above the threshold after I’ve been approved?

You are legally required to notify your COR and your bono social status will end. If the COR discovers the change through AEAT data sharing during a renewal review, your discount will be cancelled from that point. Retroactive repayment of incorrectly claimed discounts can be pursued by the COR, so notifying proactively is the correct approach.

Can I get bono social if I rent my home rather than own it?

Yes. The bono social applies to the electricity supply point (CUPS), not to property ownership. As long as the electricity contract is in your name, you are at the property as your primary residence, and you are empadronado at that address, ownership status does not matter.

How long does it take from application to first discounted bill?

The COR has 15 business days to process the application. Once approved, the discount applies from the next billing cycle. If your billing cycle is monthly, expect to see the first discounted bill 6–8 weeks after submitting a complete application. If your application was missing documents and needed follow-up, add additional time.

Can I get the bono social if my CUPS is in a community property building?

Yes, provided the supply point in question is your individual dwelling’s meter and supply, not communal areas (which have their own CUPS). Individual apartment supplies in blocks of flats are eligible on the same basis as standalone houses, as long as the technical and personal criteria are met.

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Related guides:

• Switching electricity supplier in Spain: what to expect
• PVPC vs fixed-rate electricity tariffs in Spain
• How to read your Spanish electricity bill
• Complete guide to electricity in Spain for expats

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