Electric social bonus: who can request it and how to obtain it

Large families with a valid title, households with a beneficiary of the minimum vital income (IMV), persons or cohabitation units with incomes below the established limits, and pensioners receiving the minimum retirement or permanent disability pension may apply for the electric social bonus.

This aid consists of a regulated discount on the voluntary price for the small consumer (PVPC) electricity tariff of 42.5% for vulnerable consumers and 57.5% for severely vulnerable ones, applicable until December 31, 2026. The electric social bonus can continue to be requested from 2027 onwards, with the percentages established by the current regulations. For this year, the category is established based on the income and personal and family circumstances provided for by the regulations.

For a person living alone, the income limit is set at 12,600 euros per year and increases with each additional member of the cohabitation unit. For example, in a household consisting of two adults and one minor, the limit is 19,320 euros per year.

In the case of pensioners receiving the minimum retirement or permanent disability pension, this must be the main source of income for the household unit. All members of the household unit who have income must receive the foreseen minimum pensions and other joint income must not exceed 500 euros per year.

People who have a recognized disability of 33% or higher or a grade II or III dependency situation, as well as single-parent families with at least one dependent minor, may also apply for the electricity social bonus. The right to benefit from the social bonus also extends to people living with someone who meets these requirements, provided they are part of the same household unit. However, these situations allow for the income thresholds to be increased, but do not provide automatic access to the aid.

The same applies to households where there is an electro-dependent person due to illness, who has suffered gender-based violence within the couple, or who has been recognized as a victim of terrorism.

How to apply

The electricity social bonus is an aid regulated by the State, and the Department of Social Rights and Inclusion promotes its dissemination, offers information to citizens, and promotes the training of professionals so they can advise and accompany people in the processing of the aid. The discount applies to two parts of the bill: the contracted power and the energy consumed. However, in this second case, the discount is only up to a monthly consumption limit, which varies according to the number of members and the characteristics of the cohabitation unit. For example, if a household has a subsidized limit of 150 kWh per month and consumes 200, the discount will be applied to the first 150 kWh. The remaining 50 kWh will be billed without a subsidy.

To benefit from it, the contract for the habitual residence must be in the name of the applicant, with a contracted power equal to or less than 10 kW and the regulated PVPC tariff. If it is necessary to change the ownership or switch to this tariff, it can be managed with a reference retailer when processing the application.

The application is submitted directly to a reference retailer, which is one of the companies authorized to offer the PVPC, through the channels it has enabled. To process it, it is necessary to contact one of the reference retailers (regulated market) directly through their online, telephone, or in-person channels.

It is necessary to fill out the form and provide the corresponding documentation: identification of the holder and the members of the cohabitation unit over 14 years of age, registration of residence (empadronament), and accreditation of the family composition, among others. Depending on the case, it is also necessary to provide proof of large family status or special circumstances.

In general, the social bonus has a validity of two years. In most cases, the renewal is automatic if the requirements are maintained and the necessary consents to verify them are available. There are exceptions, so it is necessary to review the communications from the retailer. For large families, the validity is linked to the title: when it expires, a new application must be submitted with the updated documentation.

The thermal social bonus

The electricity social bonus also provides access to the thermal social bonus, an annual aid intended to cover heating, hot water, and cooking expenses. Those who had the electricity social bonus granted on December 31st of the previous year are eligible. There is no need to submit any additional application, as the granting of the thermal social bonus is processed directly. This aid contributes to compensating expenses derived from energy consumption for thermal uses.

To find out if you are entitled to this aid, you only need to consult the list of beneficiaries published by the Department of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition of the Government of Catalonia. The amount of the thermal social bonus is deposited directly into the beneficiary's bank account, without the need to carry out any additional procedures.