The average price of electricity for this Saturday, April 18, 2026 will be 46.56 euros per megawatt hour (MWh) in the wholesale market, according to data published by the Iberian Energy Market Operator (OMIE). Electricity changes trend and experiences the first drop of the entire week, with a decrease of 34.30% compared to Friday. Specifically, about 24.31 euros less will be paid for the ‘pool’.
It must be remembered that this amount refers to the wholesale market, which does not include concepts such as taxes or tolls. These are included in the Voluntary Price for Small Consumers (PVPC), which is the one that affects consumers with a regulated or indexed rate in the free market and is published late in the afternoon by Red Eléctrica.
When is electricity cheaper this Saturday?
The cheapest hour of electricity will be from 2:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., with a price of -2.08 euros/MWh. The cheapest slots will begin, as in the past, in the morning and will continue until mid-afternoon. This is seen even with negative values, below the euro.
When is electricity most expensive tomorrow, Saturday?
The maximum price of electricity will occur from 00 to 01 hours, when 96.63 euros/MWh will be reached. Again, the same pattern is repeated with the most expensive hours and they will occur at different times of the day. early in the morning, first thing in the morning and at night.
Price of electricity by hour, Saturday, April 18
For the first time this week, the electricity goes down, so it is a good idea to take advantage of it by using efficient consumption. This will be the price of electricity hour by hour on Saturday, April 18, 2026 in the wholesale market:
| Hour | Price (euros/MWh) |
|---|---|
| 00:00 – 01:00 | 96.63 |
| 01:00 – 02:00 | 90.96 |
| 02:00 – 03:00 | 83.28 |
| 03:00 – 04:00 | 77.24 |
| 04:00 – 05:00 | 75.04 |
| 05:00 – 06:00 | 76.70 |
| 06:00 – 07:00 | 83.29 |
| 07:00 – 08:00 | 84.98 |
| 08:00 – 09:00 | 63.03 |
| 09:00 – 10:00 | 20.48 |
| 10:00 – 11:00 | 1.78 |
| 11:00 – 12:00 | -0.70 |
| 12:00 – 13:00 | -1.04 |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | -2.05 |
| 14:00 – 15:00 | -2.08 |
| 15:00 – 16:00 | -1.33 |
| 16:00 – 17:00 | -0.91 |
| 17:00 – 18:00 | -0.11 |
| 18:00 – 19:00 | 3.63 |
| 19:00 – 20:00 | 41.97 |
| 20:00 – 21:00 | 79.52 |
| 21:00 – 22:00 | 83.88 |
| 22:00 – 23:00 | 81.66 |
| 23:00 – 24:00 | 81.64 |
Evolution of the price of electricity during the first 18 days of April
The average price during these first 18 days of April has been 35.63 euros/MWh, which means that electricity is now 9.39 euros more expensive than compared to a year ago, when the average price was €26.24/MWh.
If today’s day is compared to just a year ago, there is a significant increase of 277.02%. It is so because April 18, 2025 The price of electricity stood at €12.35/MWh, while the price today stands at €46.56/MWh, which represents an increase of €34.21 compared to the same date last year.
| Date | 2025 | 2026 | Difference in euros/MWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 1 | 58.60 | 5.15 | -53.45 |
| April 2 | 27.99 | 5.00 | -38.22 |
| April 3 | 22.10 | 14.44 | -7.66 |
| April 4 | 11.24 | 21.21 | 9.97 |
| April 5 | 24.42 | 23.15 | -1.27 |
| April 6 | 26.56 | 19.40 | -7.16 |
| April 7 | 56.14 | 33.48 | -22.66 |
| April 8 | 47.67 | 63.21 | 15.54 |
| April 9 | 31.98 | 53.20 | 21,22 |
| April 10 | 19.20 | 44.48 | 19.20 |
| April 11 | 18.35 | 28.91 | 10.56 |
| April 12 | 27.01 | 13.33 | -13.68 |
| April 13 | 18.35 | 23.81 | 5.46 |
| April 14 | 24.54 | 45.97 | 21.43 |
| April 15 | 11.73 | 59.90 | 48.17 |
| April 16 | 12,14 | 69.33 | 57.19 |
| April 17 | 21.94 | 70.87 | 48.93 |
| April 18 | 12.35 | 46.56 | 34.21 |
The impact of the conflict in Iran: geopolitical tensions and their reflection in the energy bill
The conflict in Iran and the instability in the Middle East act as a direct thermometer for global energy markets, the effects of which will soon be transferred to the final consumer. The Iranian country is a vital artery for the global supply of hydrocarbons, so any escalation of war immediately increases the risk premium for raw materials. As crude oil and natural gas become more expensive in wholesale markets, the costs of electricity generation and logistics suffer a domino effect that puts upward pressure on both the electricity and gas rates charged by households and companies.
This same week, volatility has again strongly shaken quotes after warnings about a possible blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic crossing point through which a fifth of the world’s oil transits. Due to fear of severe supply interruptions, the price of a barrel has once again exceeded the $103 barrier, while European natural gas prices have also recorded significant increases due to geopolitical uncertainty. These recent data reflect the enormous sensitivity of the sector to any tactical movement or political declaration that threatens the energy infrastructure of the area.
For citizens, this translates into a scenario of potential increase in the cost of their bills in the short and medium term. Although there are strategic reserves and mechanisms in the free and regulated market that attempt to cushion the initial impact, a prolongation of the conflict or the sustained closure of trade routes would end up consolidating these extra costs in the revisions of marketing rates. Consequently, the user not only faces the risk of a higher energy bill, but also underlying inflationary pressure that could increase the overall cost of basic goods and services.