Adjusting your contracted electricity power can impact both your energy costs and your comfort at home. Increasing the contracted power typically costs around €46 per additional kilowatt, but there are clear scenarios where this change is necessary. This guide explains when and how to adjust your electricity power, the associated costs, and the process timeline.
When Should You Increase Your Electricity Power?
You may need to increase your contracted power if:
- Your circuit breakers trip frequently due to high energy demand.
- You’ve added new high-consumption appliances, such as ovens, heaters, or electric vehicles.
- You want to avoid interruptions in your electricity supply during peak usage.
How to increase the power of the electricity?
To increase the contracted electrical power at home, you should contact the electricity supplier through their usual customer service channels and provide the following information:
- Name, surname and ID card number of the contract holder.
- Current and new electrical power
- CUPS number
- Address of the supply point
- Electricity Bulletin (in certain cases)
How long does it take to increase the electrical power?
The estimated time to increase the electrical power is between seven and twenty days. This may take longer because the billing cycle must be closed before the change is accepted.
How Much Does It Cost to Increase Power?
Once the power increase is approved, you’ll pay fees for the additional kilowatts. These fees are included in your first electricity bill after the change and are paid to the electricity distributor.
Breakdown of fees (per kilowatt, excluding taxes):
- Access rights: €19.70/kW
- Extension rights: €17.37/kW
- Connection rights: €9.04
Example Calculation
A household increases power from 3.45 kW to 4.6 kW:
- Kilowatts increased: 1.15 kW
- Access rights: 19.70 € × 1.15 kW = 22.66 €
- Extension rights: 17.37 € × 1.15 kW = 19.97 €
- Connection fee: 9.04 €
Subtotal: 51.67 €
Total with 21% tax: 62.52 €
As you can see, increasing contracted power can be costly.
How much does it cost to reduce the contracted power?
All consumers who want to reduce the contracted power will have to pay 10.94 € to the electricity distributor as a connection fee.
This charge is included in the first electricity bill received after the change in power and is sent to the distributor by the distributor.
Key Takeaways
- Increasing power is recommended when your energy demand exceeds your current contracted kilowatts.
- Decreasing power can save money, but only makes sense if your current supply exceeds your actual usage.
- Always check fees and taxes before making changes to understand the total cost.
