The contracted electrical power refers to the fixed electricity term that we pay every month on our bill. It measures in kilowatts (kW) the number of electrical appliances or devices that can be used at the same time in a property without a power cut or interruptions in supply.
This defines the necessary cost that needs to be paid to the distribution company in the area, to cover the costs generated by the electricity system itself, i.e. its assigned access toll.
When you buy a home, there are variations in your usual consumption, so that the power may not correspond to the electrical needs of its new inhabitants. This can mean paying more on the electricity bill unnecessarily or even suffering a power cut (ICP) if the contracted kilowatts are not sufficient.
How to calculate the electrical power of your new home
The most important factors to be taken into account in calculating the electrical power of your new home are as follows:
- The consumption of all appliances or household appliances in the building, represented in kilowatt hours (kWh).
- The number of devices or appliances to be connected simultaneously
- The consumption schedules of the inhabitants of the dwelling and their electricity needs.
- The dimensions of the dwelling represented in square meters
Selectra, energy experts, then recommend carrying out the calculation using different methodologies:
- Use one of the many online calculators available.
- Access your own electricity meter readings through the customer area of your electricity supplier or distributor in your area.
- Calculate using the following formula: [(Sum of kW of each appliance) x 0.25] + 1
Once the optimum power to be contracted is known, how to change it?
Changing the contracted power is a very simple procedure that can be carried out in person, however, it is recommended that you use the telephone, such as the Endesa telephonefor greater speed.
It will only be necessary to apply for the procedure and provide the following documents, regardless of the electricity company contracted:
- Personal data of the contract holder: ID card number, full name and contact details.
- Current and desired contracted power, represented in kW
- Exact address of the dwelling and CUPS code, which is reflected in the electricity bill details.
How much does it cost to change the power of a house?
The cost of the change of power constitutes a series of regulated fees that must be paid to the distributor. It represents a single payment that will be included in the next electricity bill, once the change has been made.
- The cost of lowering the power will include the hook-up fee, which is 9.04 € plus VAT, regardless of the kilowatts reduced.
- The cost of increasing power This includes extension, access and connection fees, and will depend on the number of kilowatts increased. To get an idea, it will correspond to an amount of approximately €60 for each kW increased.