The Energy Services Regulatory Authority (ERSE) announced the approval of the new Tariff Regulation (RT) for the Electricity Sector, which will come into force in the regulatory cycle from 2026 to 2029. changes aim to increase flexibility for consumers and implement new efficiency mechanisms for companies in the sector.
One of the main innovations for domestic customers is the elimination of the requirement to stay for 12 months on the same tariff option. From 2026 onwards, normal low voltage (BTN) consumers with contracted power up to 20.7 kVA will be able to freely change between simple, two-hour and three-hour tariffs, adjusting to different consumption profiles and the offers available in the liberalized market.
With this measure, ERSE intends to give consumers more autonomy, allowing them to adapt contracts to their needs and benefit from periods with lower prices. This Flexibility is part of a broader effort to streamline the market and promote more efficient consumption choices.
Furthermore, ERSE plans to release, in the coming weeks, a new study on time periods in mainland Portugal, the preliminary version of which was presented in the tariff decision for 2025. A public consultation will also be opened to review the price windows currently in force.
The new regulation also reinforces incentives for efficiency in network management and the digitalization of the electrical system. ERSE will improve regulation methodologies through TOTEX incentives, rewarding innovative solutions that promote flexibility and more rational use of infrastructures. Furthermore, mechanisms will be introduced that value the technical performance of operators and stimulate competition in the system services market.