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Technical Authority Guide

3.0TD Electricity Tariffs for Communities in Spain

Most apartment communities, urbanisations and communal electricity supplies in Spain operate on 3.0TD commercial electricity tariffs.

>15kW
Contracted Power
6
Time Periods
Maxímetro
Measurement
3.0TD
Technical

3.0TD Tariff Summary

What Is 3.0TD?

High Power

The mandatory tariff for any supply point requiring more than 15kW of power.

Who Uses 3.0TD?

Communities

Apartment blocks, urbanisations, and large residential complexes.

Why 3.0TD?

Scalability

Allows for complex infrastructure like multiple lifts and communal pools.

Contracted Power

6 Periods

You specify a separate power limit (kW) for each of the 6 time periods.

What Is a 3.0TD Tariff?

Commercial Structure

3.0TD is a commercial-grade electricity tariff. While the supply may power residential common areas, the contract is tied to the community's CIF (Tax ID) and follows commercial market rules.

CNMC Reform

Introduced in June 2021 by the CNMC, 3.0TD replaced the old 3.0A and 3.1A tariffs to create a more granular, time-of-use pricing model for larger consumers.

6-Period Complexity

Unlike domestic 2.0TD tariffs with 3 periods, 3.0TD uses 6 distinct periods for both energy (consumption) and power (capacity), varying by month and region.

Who Uses 3.0TD Tariffs?

Apartment Communities

Standard blocks with lifts, communal lighting, and security systems.

Urbanisations

Large complexes with extensive garden lighting and communal pools.

Commercial Blocks

Mixed-use buildings with offices and residential units sharing a supply.

Gated Communities

Developments with guardhouses, electric gates, and CCTV networks.

Understanding P1 to P6 Electricity Periods

The 3.0TD tariff splits the year into four 'seasons' and the day into 6 time periods. These periods dictate both the price of energy and the cost of your standing capacity.

PeriodCost ProfileTypical Timing
P1Highest (Peak)Morning (09-14h) & Evening (18-22h)
P2HighMid-day (14-18h)
P3MediumEarly morning & late night
P4-P5LowSpecific transition months
P6Minimum (Off-Peak)00:00 - 08:00, Weekends, Holidays
Important: P6 energy and power are always the cheapest. Shifting pool filtration to P6 can save a community thousands of euros annually.

Contracted Power (Potencia) Explained

Potencia is the capacity limit you pay for every day. In 3.0TD, you must contract power for all 6 periods. The rule is that the power in P(n+1) must always be equal to or greater than P(n). Many communities fail to optimize this 'staircase' of power, paying for peak capacity in the middle of the night.

Optimization Potential

Optimizing the 'Potencia Contratada' is often the single largest saving on a community bill, reducing the standing charge by up to 30%.

Direct Annual Standing Charge Reduction

Demand Charges & Standing Costs

The fixed part of a 3.0TD bill is calculated by multiplying the kW of power in each period by the number of days. For a community with 30kW contracted, this fixed cost can be €250+ per month before a single light is turned on.
Fixed Standing Charge€2,500 - €8,000+ / year
P1 Power CostHighest Daily Rate
P6 Power CostLowest Daily Rate

Excess Power Penalties

In 3.0TD, the supply is not cut off if you exceed your contracted power. Instead, the 'maxímetro' records the peak demand, and you are billed for 'excesses'.
The 'quarter-hourly' demand peak is used to calculate penalties. If you exceed your limit once, the penalty can apply for the entire billing period.

Fixed vs Indexed 3.0TD Tariffs

Fixed 3.0TD

Advantages
  • Budget certainty
  • Known cost per kWh
Considerations
  • Highest supplier margins
  • No benefit from solar peaks

Indexed 3.0TD

Advantages
  • Market-based transparency
  • Typically 15% cheaper annually
  • Lower supplier fees
Considerations
  • Monthly price fluctuations

Adjustment Services & Hidden Costs

Community bills often contain 'Adjustment Services' (Servicios de Ajuste) which cover market stability costs. In fixed contracts, these are often hidden within the price. In indexed contracts, they are transparently passed through from the market operator (OMIE).

How Communities Commonly Overpay

Oversized Potencia

Contracting power based on the building's electrical project rather than real usage.

Peak Period Usage

Running pool pumps during P1 morning peak hours.

Reactive Energy

Paying fines for 'dirty' power caused by old elevator motors.

Real 3.0TD Case Studies

Marbella Urbanisation

Annual Bill Reduction

-€2,450 / year
Previous Spend
New Spend
Primary Issue Found
Málaga Centro Block

Annual Bill Reduction

-€950 / year
Previous Spend
New Spend
Primary Issue Found
Mallorca Complex

Annual Bill Reduction

-€4,100 / year
Previous Spend
New Spend
Primary Issue Found
Alicante Gated Community

Annual Bill Reduction

-€1,600 / year
Previous Spend
New Spend
Primary Issue Found

How Communities Optimise 3.0TD

Annual maxímetro data audit.
Potencia adjustment to real-world peak demand.
Tariff comparison every 12 months.
Implementation of smart timers for pool filtration.
Reactive energy capacitor bank installation.

Common 3.0TD Mistakes

The '15kW Rule' Misconception

Thinking you can just contract 14.9kW to save money. If you need 15kW+, 3.0TD is mandatory.

Ignoring Standing Charges

Focusing only on the price per kWh while the fixed costs remain unoptimized.

3.0TD Technical FAQ

Deep technical answers for community energy managers.

2.0TD is for residential supplies below 15kW with 3 periods. 3.0TD is for commercial/community supplies above 15kW with 6 periods for both energy and power.

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