Almost 51% of your Spanish electricity bill goes towards taxes and other government charges. This is a staggering amount and you can't avoid paying it. Spanish VAT on electricity costs is a 21% which seems to be a bit unfair for a service that you cannot live without. Many think that they are going to save money by moving to Spain, but in fact, sometimes the opposite is true. When it comes to daily living expenses in Spain, it is just as expensive living in Spain as it is living in the UK. But, there are ways you can save money on electricity costs and energy costs in Spain.
How I Have Saved Money on Energy and Electricity Costs in Spain
There are several ways in which you can save money on electricity and energy costs in Spain. I started to identifying the most expensive areas of my home. There are some areas of your home where you spend more money than others, and if you find out what they are, you can start to address cost issues.
It may not be the areas that you spend most of your time. It is the areas where you use the most energy that you want to take a look at.
Top Energy and Electricity Tips in Spain
You need to come at this problem from all angles if you are serious about reducing your electricity and energy costs in Spain. There is not just one solution to this problem, so it is best to make sure that you look at all aspects.
Getting the Right Deal on Electricity
It is important to get the right deal on electricity in Spain. The main electricity supplier, has got all different deals going on. Their main deal is Night and Day, and allows you to use electricity at a cheaper rate during certain hours of the day. Of course, there are other suppliers in Spain as well, but I have not found them to be any cheaper than Iberdrola. You have to be careful with their peak charges and maintenance fees. Their customer service skills are not that great, and the sales staff are a bit too pushy for my liking. Despite everything, I think that Iberdrola is still the best supplier.
How Do You Cook Your Food?
The kitchen is one of the most costly places in the home when it comes to energy and electricity charges. It is really important to make sure that you have appliances which are rated with the best electricity rating that you can afford. However, that is not the end of it. If you want to save a lot of money on food preparation, you should look into some of the alternative cooking methods.
Save Money by Steaming Your Food
Steaming your food is not only better for you, but a steamer uses virtually no energy. I have long ago stopped boiling my vegetables, and I now steam them instead. It is not only vegetables which benefit from being cooked in a steamer. Stop boiling your potatoes and steam them instead. As a matter of fact, you can prepare a complete meal in a steamer in about half an hour.
Invest in a Slow Cooker
Slow cookers, or crock pots, are very popular in the United States. You can buy them in Spain as well, and they have become more popular in recent years even with the Spanish population. Since discovering my slow cooker, many of my Spanish friends have invested in slow cookers.
Of course, you can prepare an entire meal in a slow cooker, and the food tastes delicious. Not only can you go out and leave your slow cooker to it, but while you are out, your slow cooker saves you a small fortune in electricity costs.
Mini Ovens
Many ex-pats wonder why the Spanish are so fond of their mini ovens. Mini ovens are a great way to save on electricity costs. They heat up fast and cook the food that little bit quicker. If you enjoy simple meals such a jacket potatoes, they are the ideal way to prepare a quick meal. Yet another way to save money in Spain.
Do You Need the Dishwasher?
If there are only a few of you, you should not really need a dishwasher. Not only are you buying another detergent, but you are also using up a lot of water and electricity. Most hand washing up liquids are very environmental friendly, so you can use the dish water to water your plants in the garden or in the home. Another advantage of doing the dishes by hand.
Take it Off Stand By
Televisions and modern sound systems are often left on stand by. Do they really need to be? Take them off stand by and you will soon notice that your electricity costs will go down. It is a quick and easy solution to a very common and over looked electricity cost which many forget about.
You can also save water costs by using low flow water appliances. They are becoming more and more popular, and plumbers now recommend them. Also, don't forget to do the laundry at a lower temperature using a quality detergent and softener. There are other reasons why you should use a quality detergent and softener, but more about that later.
Start looking around your home and see what ways that you can come up with when it comes to saving money on energy and electricity costs. This savings tip is not all down to saving money on foreign exchange rates.