ahorr.ai · Blog

Bono Social Eléctrico: What It Is and How to Check It (Forensic Guide)

Respuesta rápida

The Bono Social Eléctrico is a regulated discount on the electricity bill designed to protect vulnerable consumers in Spain. This government aid reduces the cost of electricity for individuals and families meeting specific income or social criteria. To benefit from it, users must have a contracted power within limits and be under the regulated market (PVPC) through a reference supplier.

En 30 segundos

  • Locate the 'Datos del Contrato' section in your PDF bill.
  • Verify if your tariff is listed as 'PVPC' (Precio Voluntario para el Pequeño Consumidor).
  • Look for the specific line item 'Descuento por Bono Social' in the billing breakdown.

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Transparencia y fuentes

Authorship, methodology and official sources.

Actualizado: 10 de enero de 2026

Autoría

Equipo ahorr.ai

Auditoría energética (España)

Metodología orientada a decisión: separar coste fijo/variable, detectar extras y comparar opciones con números claros.

Metodología

  • Separamos coste fijo (potencia/término fijo), energía y cargos/impuestos.
  • Buscamos sobrecostes típicos: potencia sobredimensionada, servicios extra, lecturas estimadas.
  • Damos pasos accionables (qué tocar primero) con ejemplos orientativos, no promesas.
  • Enlazamos fuentes oficiales y marcamos lo que puede variar por comercializadora.

Información orientativa (España). Comprueba condiciones con tu comercializadora: precios, peajes, cargos e impuestos pueden variar.

Qué es bono social eléctrico: qué es y cómo comprobarlo (sin jerga)

The Bono Social is a discount mandated by the Spanish government to protect consumers with lower incomes or specific social situations.

La definición en una frase

It is a reduction of between 25% and 80% on the regulated electricity bill (PVPC) for those who meet specific income or family requirements.

Dónde aparece en la factura

It is always located in the 'Detalle de la Factura' (Bill Details) section, explicitly labeled as 'Descuento Bono Social'.

Por qué importa (dinero, decisiones y trampas típicas)

Choosing the wrong tariff can cost you hundreds of euros a year. The Bono Social isn't just a discount; it's a different way of being billed.

El error más común

Many users believe they have the Bono Social because they are with a large company like Iberdrola or Endesa, but they are actually in their 'Free Market' division where the discount cannot be applied.

La pista que casi nadie mira

Check the 'Social Power' limit. The discount only applies up to a certain kWh consumption limit; exceeding this means you pay the full PVPC price for the remainder.

Cómo comprobarlo en 60 segundos (checklist de auditor)

A forensic audit doesn't have to be long. Follow these steps to verify your status.

Qué buscar en el PDF

Look for the name of your provider. If it doesn't end in 'Comercializador de Referencia', you definitely do not have the Bono Social.

Qué anotar para comparar

Note your 'Potencia Contratada' and your 'Consumo Total'. These two numbers are the DNA of your energy costs.

Si quieres certeza: autopsia tu factura y decide con números

Stop guessing and start auditing. Data-driven decisions are the only way to ensure you aren't overpaying.

Qué detecta ahorr.ai

Our tool identifies if you are on the wrong market, if you have 'vampire' services attached, and if your power is oversized for your actual needs.

Qué hacer con el resultado

Use the audit report to call your provider or switch to a regulated marketer with the evidence in hand.

Checklist for Bono Social Eléctrico: What It Is and How to Check It

  • Locate the 'Datos del Contrato' section in your PDF bill.
  • Verify if your tariff is listed as 'PVPC' (Precio Voluntario para el Pequeño Consumidor).
  • Look for the specific line item 'Descuento por Bono Social' in the billing breakdown.
  • Check your 'Vulnerability Category' (Vulnerable, Severely Vulnerable, or Risk of Social Exclusion).
  • Compare your current power peaks against your contracted power to avoid overpaying.
  • Confirm the expiration date of your Bono Social status (usually every 2 years).

Bono Social vs. Standard Market Rates

FeatureBono Social (PVPC)Free Market (Mercado Libre)
Discount Rate25% to 80% off the regulated priceNo regulated discount
Price TypeVariable (hourly market price)Fixed or Variable (set by company)
Extra ServicesProhibited by lawOften bundled (maintenance, insurance)
EligibilityStrict income/social criteriaOpen to everyone

The Bono Social is only available through Reference Marketers (Comercializadoras de Referencia).

The Landlord's Oversight: A Real-World Audit

A property owner in Madrid managing a rental apartment suspected the bills were too high despite the tenant being a student. Upon performing a forensic audit of the PDF, we found that while the tenant could have qualified for the Bono Social, the contract was still on a standard market rate. Even worse, the power was oversized.

Hallazgos

  • Contracted power was 4.6 kW, while real-time peaks never exceeded 2.8 kW.
  • A hidden 'extra service' fee of 6.99 €/month was being charged for maintenance.
  • The effective price was 0.23 €/kWh, nearly double what a Bono Social rate would offer.

No bill handy?

You can still start your energy profile and see how much you could save based on your home type.

Related guides

Preguntas frecuentes

It refers to identifying the specific discount applied to the PVPC tariff. You check it by looking for the 'Bono Social' label in the 'Billing Details' section of your PDF.
The most common error is staying on the 'Free Market' with a high fixed price when you are eligible for the Bono Social, which is only available on the regulated PVPC market.
You can request a power reduction (bajada de potencia) to match your actual usage, which reduces the fixed cost of your bill immediately.
Our IA analyzes your consumption patterns and compares your current costs against the regulated PVPC rates to estimate if the Bono Social would be more beneficial.
One recent bill is enough for a forensic snapshot, but having three months of data allows us to see your peak power usage more accurately.

Privacy-First Auditing

We don't store your bills. We don't call you. We just give you the numbers you need to save.

Disclaimers

  • Informational tool; not financial advice.
  • We don’t guarantee savings: these are estimates.