# ERSE Tariffs Rise: Electricity and Gas Bills Increase in October

> Portugal's regulated electricity and gas tariffs rose 2.7% and 6.4% on 1 October 2026, pushing up bills for households still on ERSE-set rates.

- Source: https://www.growinportugal.com/news/electricity-and-gas-bills-rise-as-new-erse-tariffs-take-effe-2026-10-07
- Publisher: GrowIN Portugal (https://www.growinportugal.com)
- Published: 2026-10-07
- Last reviewed: 2026-10-07
- Language: en

> **Key figures — as of 2026-10-07:** Regulated electricity tariffs rose 2.7% on 1 October 2026, affecting roughly 779,000 households and small businesses — regulated natural gas tariffs rose 6.4%, affecting around 431,000 customers — a couple with two children on the regulated electricity tariff pays up to €2.70 more a month, with the average bill reaching €97.73 — the same household's gas bill can rise by up to €1.62 a month.

## What changed on 1 October

Portugal's energy regulator, ERSE, raised regulated tariffs for both electricity and natural gas on the same day, though the two increases stem from separate decisions. ERSE said it will raise regulated electricity tariffs by 2.7% for 779,000 households and small businesses from October 1, after a surge in natural gas prices linked to the Iran-U.S. conflict pushed wholesale power costs above forecasts. On the gas side, the new tariffs cover around 431,000 customers still on the regulated market, and run from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027.

Mechanically, the electricity move came from a quarterly cost-review clause rather than a full annual reset. The energy component will rise by €0.005/kWh, or €5/MWh, starting October 1, 2026. ERSE had originally pencilled in a modest 1% rise for the year back in January, but the revision will produce an estimated effect of about 2.7% on the average monthly bill for most regulated domestic customers, with the average annual price variation rising to 1.7%, compared with 1% initially forecast.

## What it means at the meter

ERSE's own household simulations give the clearest sense of scale. A couple without children, with contracted power of 3.45 kVA and annual consumption of 1,900 kWh, will pay an additional 95 cents a month, with their average bill rising to €37.77. For a couple with two children, contracted power of 6.9 kVA and annual consumption of 5,000 kWh, the monthly increase is €2.70, bringing the average bill to €97.73.

Gas customers face a steeper percentage jump. According to ERSE's figures reported locally, the increase translates into an extra 0.91 to 1.62 euros a month on a typical household bill, depending on the consumption tier.

Not every customer in Portugal is affected equally, and that distinction matters for anyone budgeting a household move. The percentages do not automatically apply to every energy contract in Portugal — customers on the free market pay the prices agreed with their supplier, and companies are not required to apply the same increases as the regulated tariffs. Because they can switch between regulated and market-price contracts, utilities take ERSE's rates into account when setting prices for their 5.7 million customers in the liberalised market, which means a knock-on effect, if any, tends to lag rather than mirror the regulated increase exactly.

## GrowIN's reading of the numbers

Run the two simulations together and the picture sharpens: a dual-fuel household on both regulated tariffs — the profile most common among tenants who inherited a contract from a landlord or never switched after arriving — could see electricity and gas rise by a combined €4.32 a month at the higher consumption tier used in ERSE's own example. Annualised, that's roughly €52 a year added to a single household's running costs, on top of whatever the January 2026 adjustment already added. It isn't a shock figure, but stacked onto rent, condominium fees and insurance renewals that typically also tick up in October, it's another line moving in the wrong direction for budget-conscious newcomers.

**For newcomers who haven't switched out of the regulated tariff, October's increases are a reminder that standing still on an energy contract has a price tag too** — GrowIN Portugal Editorial.

## Why foreign residents should pay attention

Many people who relocate to Portugal end up on a regulated tariff by default — it's often the plan a landlord or estate agent has already set up, and switching requires comparing offers in Portuguese from multiple suppliers. ERSE's own guidance points customers toward checking their supplier's current prices rather than assuming the regulated percentage applies to them. For anyone newly arrived and still finding their footing with utilities, NIFs and bank direct debits, this is worth folding into the broader [relocation](/relocation/) checklist rather than discovering it on next month's bill.

## What to watch next

ERSE reviews the cost gap behind this adjustment quarterly, so a further correction before the end of the gas year (30 September 2027) isn't ruled out if wholesale gas and electricity prices stay elevated. Households on the liberalised market should watch for any repricing from major suppliers in the coming weeks, since regulated tariff moves often set the tone even where they don't set the rule. GrowIN will update this piece if ERSE publishes a further revision.

Foreign residents settling utility contracts for the first time, or unsure whether they're on a regulated or liberalised plan, can get tailored help through GrowIN's [services](/services/).

## Sources

- [ERSE — Entidade Reguladora dos Serviços Energéticos](https://www.erse.pt/en/activities/market-regulation/tariffs-and-prices-electricity/)
- [Reuters (via Global Banking and Finance)](https://www.globalbankingandfinance.com/portugals-regulator-raises-power-tariffs-2-7-blames-us-iran/)
- [The Portugal News](https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2026-10-01/electricity-and-gas-bills-rise-from-october/1094567)

---

© GrowIN Portugal. Cite as: GrowIN Portugal, "ERSE Tariffs Rise: Electricity and Gas Bills Increase in October", https://www.growinportugal.com/news/electricity-and-gas-bills-rise-as-new-erse-tariffs-take-effe-2026-10-07