As energy prices continue to fluctuate across Europe, knowledge is power and in this case, power costs less when you know when to use it. Photo by REE website.
If you’re living in Spain and have noticed your electricity bill climbing higher than expected, you’re not alone. With variable pricing, time-of-use tariffs, and changing energy costs across the EU, understanding when to use appliances can make a significant difference. Luckily, there’s a free tool at your disposal: the RedOS app by Red Eléctrica de España, Spain’s electricity grid operator.
Whether you’re running air conditioning on a hot summer day, charging your devices, or doing laundry, timing matters and the RedOS app helps you get that timing right.
What Is the RedOS App?
RedOS is the official mobile application of Red Eléctrica, designed to help users track electricity demand, supply, and most importantly, the hourly price of electricity in Spain. It’s available in both English and Spanish and works on Android and iOS.
If you’re on a regulated tariff (PVPC), your electricity price can change every hour, 24 times a day. That might sound complicated, but the app makes it much easier to follow and even plan around those price swings.
Why Prices Change Hour to Hour
The Spanish electricity market uses a system where prices fluctuate based on demand, renewable energy production, and wholesale costs. For example, prices may be lower during the night or early morning and peak during midday and early evening.
This is especially important if you’re on a PVPC (Precio Voluntario para el Pequeño Consumidor) tariff, which most consumers are by default unless they’ve opted into a fixed-rate contract. Under this system, your cost per kilowatt-hour is determined hourly.
How to Use the App to Save Money
- Download and Set Your Preferences
Once you’ve downloaded RedOS, you can select English as your preferred language. You don’t need to log in or create an account. Simply open the app, and you’ll be taken to a screen showing a graph of current electricity prices. - View Hourly Prices
The app clearly shows a colour-coded graph for the current day’s electricity prices. Green bars mean lower prices, while red bars indicate peak cost periods. You can tap on each bar to see the exact price for that hour in €/kWh. - Plan Ahead with Tomorrow’s Prices
Around 8:15 pm every evening, RedOS updates the electricity prices for the following day. This is a golden opportunity to plan your energy usage. Schedule your washing machine, dishwasher, or even charge your electric vehicle when prices are lowest. - Use the “Best Time” Feature
The app also shows the cheapest and most expensive time slots, so if you don’t want to examine every hour, you can just check when to avoid using heavy appliances and when it’s most economical to do so.
Tips for Reducing Your Electricity Bill
Once you get used to checking RedOS daily or even weekly, it becomes a powerful ally in reducing your electricity bill. Here are a few simple adjustments to make the most of the information:
- Run appliances at off-peak hours. If your washing machine or dishwasher has a delay-start function, use it to run cycles in the early morning or late evening when prices drop.
- Avoid energy-intensive tasks during peak hours. Cooking with the oven or ironing during the most expensive slots can quickly add up.
- Charge devices and electric vehicles strategically. Set them to charge overnight or early morning for maximum savings.
- Cool and heat smart. Air conditioning is one of the biggest energy consumers in summer. Try to cool your home before peak prices hit and close shutters to maintain temperature.
What If You’re on a Fixed-Rate Tariff?
If you’ve signed a contract with a free-market supplier, your rates may not change hourly. Even so, the RedOS app can still give you insight into grid demand and overall trends, which may help you understand how your supplier sets rates or even encourage you to switch to a more cost-effective plan.
Extra Features
RedOS doesn’t just help with prices it also provides:
- Energy mix tracking: See how much of the day’s electricity is coming from renewables like wind, solar, and hydro.
- Real-time demand: Get a sense of how much electricity Spain is consuming at any given moment.
- Carbon emissions data: Understand the environmental impact of the current energy mix.
Understanding when electricity is cheapest in Spain doesn’t have to be a guessing game. With a few taps in the RedOS app, you can reduce your energy bill and even lessen your environmental footprint.
If you’re a Brit living in Spain and still adjusting to how the energy market works here, RedOS is a must-have on your phone. It’s free, reliable, and gives you a clearer picture of how your household habits affect your wallet.
As energy prices continue to fluctuate across Europe, knowledge is power and in this case, power costs less when you know when to use it.
