What happens if we contract too little power?

In a community (3.0TD), you won't be in the dark. You will simply be billed an 'excess power' penalty for that month.

Is the lift startup current a problem?

Rarely. Modern maxímetros average demand over 15 minutes, so short 2-second spikes from a lift are smoothed out and rarely trigger penalties.

Why is P1 power so expensive?

Because it represents the peak load on the national grid during morning and evening hours. The grid operator charges more to discourage usage during these times.

How do we know our peak demand?

It is recorded on your digital meter. We can access this data via your distributor portal or by analyzing your detailed bill (factura detallada).

Can we have different power for different months?

No, the contracted power is set for the year, but you can have different values for each of the 6 time periods (P1-P6).

Does the administrator have to sign the change?

Usually, the President signs the new contract, and the Administrator facilitates the paperwork with the supplier.

Is there a limit to how low we can go?

Technically no, but you must ensure you have enough power for all safety systems and lifts to operate without excessive penalties.

How much can we save by dropping 10kW?

Dropping 10kW in P1/P2 can save roughly €800-€1,100 per year in standing charges.

What is the 'Boletín'?

It is the electrical certificate for the building. It defines the maximum power the building's wiring can safely handle.

Can we increase power later if needed?

Yes, as long as it's within the limit of your 'Boletín'. If you go higher, you'll need a new certificate.

Why do some periods cost more for standing charges?

It's based on the 'ATR' (Access to the Grid) tolls set by the Spanish government to manage grid stability.

Communities Hub

Potencia Authority Guide

Contracted Power (Potencia) for Communities in Spain

Contracted power is one of the biggest drivers of communal electricity standing charges. Many communities remain significantly overcontracted for years, leading to unnecessarily high annual costs.

20-40%

Potencia Waste

Maxímetro

Audit Type

€1,200

Avg. Savings

Direct

Optimization

Potencia Contratada Summary

What Is Potencia?

Capacity

The kW limit available to your community at any given moment. You pay for this every day regardless of usage.

Why It Matters

Fixed Cost

It determines the 'standing charge' (término de potencia), which can be 40-50% of the total bill.

Standing Charges

Daily

Billed per kW per day. If you contract 40kW but only use 20kW, you are wasting 50% of this cost.

Overpayment

Common

Most communities use legacy settings from when the building was first commissioned.

What Is Contracted Power?

Contracted kW Capacity

Think of it as the 'size of the pipe'. It limits how many lifts, pumps, and lights can run simultaneously without incurring penalties.

Availability vs Usage

Unlike 'energy usage' (kWh), which you pay for as you consume it, 'potencia' is a fixed reservation fee for availability.

The Standing Charge

Technically known as the 'Término de Potencia', this is the cost paid to the distributor for maintaining the grid capacity to your CIF.

How Potencia Works in Spain

In Spain, especially for 3.0TD tariffs, you contract a specific number of kilowatts (kW) for each of the 6 periods (P1 to P6). The cost per kW varies by period, with P1 being the most expensive and P6 the cheapest.

Period	Cost Level	Function
P1	Highest	Morning & evening peaks
P2-P5	Medium	Variable mid-day and transition
P6	Lowest	Nights (00:00-08:00) and weekends

Why Communities Often Overcontract

Inherited Contracts

New Presidents and Administrators often inherit the original 'Project Power' from 15 years ago.

Safety Margins

Fear of the 'ICP' (power trip) leads to massive oversized buffers that are never actually needed.

Administrator Inertia

Reviewing 12 months of maxímetro data is time-consuming and often ignored unless requested.

Standing Charges & Annual Cost Impact

Standing charges are billed daily. If your community has 40kW in P1 and the price is €0.12/kW/day, that period alone costs €1,752 per year in fixed fees.

Daily Standing Charge€5.00 - €25.00+

Annual Fixed Waste€800 - €3,500+

Lift Startup Myths & Real Demand

A common myth is that lifts require huge amounts of power to start. While they do have a 'startup spike', modern lift controllers (VFDs) smooth this peak. Furthermore, maxímetros measure demand in 15-minute averages, meaning a 2-second lift spike has almost zero impact on the billed power.

Pool Equipment & Demand Behaviour

Pool pumps are consistent loads. A 3HP pump uses about 2.2kW. If you have 2 pumps and they run during the daytime, they add 4.4kW to your P1/P2 demand. Shifting this to P6 allows you to lower P1/P2 potencia significantly.

Excess Demand & Penalties

If your 15-minute demand average exceeds your contracted power, you don't lose power; you are billed an 'excess' penalty. For many communities, it is actually cheaper to pay an occasional penalty in summer than to contract a higher power level for the entire 12 months.

Communities.PotenciaGuide.penalties.rule

How Communities Review Potencia

We use the 'Maxímetro' history from the last 12-24 months. We look for the absolute peak in each period. If your peak in P1 was only 18kW but you have 40kW contracted, you have a 22kW optimization window.

Potencia by Community Type

Community Type	Typical Potencia	Main Infrastructure	Annual Savings Opp.
Small Block (15-20 units)	20 kW	1 Lift, Hallway LED	Check bill	€450
Mid Urbanisation	45 kW	2 Pools, 4 Lifts	Check bill	€1,850
Luxury Resort	120 kW+	Heated Pools, Spas	Check bill	€5,200+

Potencia Optimization Examples

Fuengirola complex

Annual Bill Reduction

-€2,950 / year

Previous Spend

New Spend

Primary Issue Found

Madrid North block

Annual Bill Reduction

-€650 / year

Previous Spend

New Spend

Primary Issue Found

Denia urbanisation

Annual Bill Reduction

-€3,400 / year

Previous Spend

New Spend

Primary Issue Found

Palma de Mallorca

Annual Bill Reduction

-€1,100 / year

Previous Spend

New Spend

Primary Issue Found

Common Potencia Mistakes

The 'ICP' Fear

Waiting for the power to trip. In 3.0TD, the power doesn't trip; it just records a peak.

Uniform Contracting

Contracting the same power for all 6 periods. P6 (night) power is cheaper and can be higher without much cost impact.

Potencia Optimisation Checklist

Download 12-month Maxímetro data history.

Identify the 'Absolute Peak' for each of the 6 periods.

Review simultaneous usage (Pool + Lifts + AC).

Analyse P6 (night) vs P1 (peak) demand shifts.

Calculate the cost-benefit of penalty vs higher capacity.

Verify building 'Boletín' limits for any increases.

Expert Community Guides

3.0TD Guide

Technical tariff breakdown.

Read Guide

Electricity in Spain

Flagship authority guide.

Read Guide

Reduce Bills

Optimization strategies.

Read Guide

Potencia FAQ

Practical answers about communal standing charges.

Yes, provided we have the maxímetro data to prove it is safe. Most suppliers allow one power change per year.

Get a Free Independent Community Electricity Review

Many communities in Spain remain on outdated commercial electricity contracts for years without proper analysis. Upload a recent electricity bill and we’ll provide a clear independent review of potential savings opportunities.