The average price of electricity for this Saturday, May 16, 2026 is €89.62/MWh for consumers with a regulated or indexed tariff contracted in the free market, according to data published by Red Eléctrica. Electricity chains a new decline and begins the weekend with a decrease of 31.51% compared to Fridaythis time more significant. Specifically, about 41.23 euros less.
To avoid confusion, it must be remembered that this amount refers to the Voluntary Price for Small Consumers (PVPC), which is different from the one published the Iberian Energy Market Operator (OMIE) at noon and that shows what the average price costs within the wholesale market.
The price of electricity today, Sunday, May 17, in the PVPC rises with 12 sections above 100 euros
The price of electricity on Sunday, May 17, rises even more and up to 3 strips already exceed 100 euros
To understand it, the PVPC, which is the one that affects consumers with a regulated or indexed rate, includes concepts such as access tolls, system charges or electrical system adjustment costs, although it uses the wholesale market price as a base. In this way, it can be said that the wholesale market is the “factory” price of electricity while the PVPC is the “public sale” price, which is regulated by the Government.
What time is electricity cheaper today, Saturday, May 16?
The cheapest hour of electricity takes place from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at a price of 38.96 euros/MWh. Mainly, the cheapest slots begin in the morning and continue continuously until midday, although there are two separate slots in the middle of the afternoon with the lowest records.
When is electricity most expensive?
The maximum price of electricity is from 10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., at which time it reaches 174.60 euros/MWh. Most of the most expensive hours of electricity occur towards the end of the afternoon and at night, although during the early morning there are some peaks. In no case, for the first time in the entire week, are 200 euros/MWh reached.
Price of electricity per hour, Saturday, May 16 (PVPC)
For the drop in electricity to be reflected in the bill, consumption must be optimized according to its evolution throughout the day. This is the price of electricity hour by hour on Saturday, May 16, 2026 for those who have a regulated or indexed rate in the free market:
- 00:00 to 01:00: 127.31 euros/MWh
- 01:00 to 02:00: 121.20 euros/MWh
- 02:00 to 03:00: 122.84 euros/MWh
- 03:00 to 04:00: 122.54 euros/MWh
- 04:00 to 05:00: 118.16 euros/MWh
- 05:00 to 06:00: 118.98 euros/MWh
- 06:00 to 07:00: 121.68 euros/MWh
- 07:00 to 08:00: 119.21 euros/MWh
- 08:00 to 09:00: 79.21 euros/MWh
- 09:00 to 10:00: 42.03 euros/MWh
- 10:00 to 11:00: 41.29 euros/MWh
- 11:00 to 12:00: 41.02 euros/MWh
- 12:00 to 13:00: 41.26 euros/MWh
- 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.: 40.84 euros/MWh
- 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.: 41.32 euros/MWh
- 15:00 to 16:00: 42.93 euros/MWh
- 16:00 to 17:00: 43.90 euros/MWh
- 17:00 to 18:00: 39.05 euros/MWh
- 18:00 to 19:00: 38.96 euros/MWh
- 19:00 to 20:00: 65.76 euros/MWh
- 20:00 to 21:00: 122.24 euros/MWh
- 21:00 to 22:00: 159.42 euros/MWh
- 22:00 to 23:00: 174.60 euros/MWh
- 23:00 to 24:00: 165.20 euros/MWh
Red Eléctrica accuses the CNMC of lack of impartiality in the file due to the blackout
The tension between Red Eléctrica de España (REE) and the National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC) has escalated after the sanctioning file opened for the electricity blackout of April 2025. The Redeia subsidiary has accused the regulatory body of acting with a lack of impartiality and of maintaining an alleged “conflict of interest” that, in its opinion, compromises the objectivity of the procedure.
In the allegations presented to the CNMC, according to Europa Press, the company chaired by Beatriz Corredor maintains that it is in a situation of “manifest helplessness”, considering that the accusation lacks the technical precision necessary to substantiate the accusations. According to REE, this situation forces him “to prove his innocence” in the face of facts that he considers formulated in a generic way.
Furthermore, Red Eléctrica assures that the regulator has not incorporated into the file more than fifty reports and technical documents submitted during the previous investigation. The company maintains that these tests would demonstrate that the programming of the energy mix and its actions during the supply crisis fully complied with current regulations.
The clash between both parties occurs in a context of high regulatory pressure on the energy sector. In recent weeks, the CNMC has opened more than 60 sanctioning files against different electricity companies. In the case of Red Eléctrica, the regulator is investigating possible breaches of functions by the system operator, considered “very serious” infractions by the Electricity Sector Law.
REE has requested the immediate archiving of the file considering that there is no infraction attributable to its actions during the blackout.