Regulated electricity prices rise 2.7% in October. Check which contract you have
ERSE has approved a 2.7% increase in regulated electricity prices from 1 October, but the change does not automatically apply to every household contract.
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Archived 12 September 2026Households should identify their supplier and tariff before estimating the effect. A regulated-market change is not the same as a universal 2.7% rise across every free-market offer.
- The regulated electricity price changes on 1 October 2026.
- ERSE puts the increase at 2.7% for customers supplied under the regulated tariff.
- Free-market suppliers set their own commercial offers, so their customers should check the notice and price terms in their contract.
- Compare the complete annual cost, contract conditions and required extras—not only a promotional unit price.
What changes in October
Portugal's energy regulator has approved an update to the regulated electricity tariff from 1 October. ERSE says the change represents a 2.7% increase for customers supplied under the regulated price.
The regulated market covers a minority of electricity consumption. It remains important, however, because hundreds of thousands of customers use the supplier of last resort and other households may compare commercial offers with the regulated equivalent.
First identify the contract you actually have
Look at a recent bill for the supplier's name, the tariff or plan, the contracted power and whether the agreement is regulated or a free-market offer. A household with a commercial supplier should not assume that the ERSE announcement changes its bill by exactly 2.7% on the same date.
A free-market contract can have its own review date, notice period, discounts and linked services. Read any price-change message from the supplier and check whether a discount depends on direct debit, electronic billing, insurance or another add-on.
How to compare without being misled
Use the same annual consumption and contracted power for every comparison. Include the energy price, network charges, taxes, standing charges, discounts and the cost of any service that must remain attached to the plan.
Do not switch from a useful fixed or discounted offer simply because one headline number has moved. The practical question is the estimated total over a year, how long the price is valid and what happens when a promotion ends.
What you can do now.
- 01
Open a recent bill and confirm whether your contract is regulated or free market.
- 02
Check the effective date and conditions of any supplier price notice.
- 03
Compare annual totals using the same consumption and contracted power.
- 04
Keep a copy of the offer and contract terms before changing supplier.
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