Spain’s average electricity price drops to 87.32 euros per megawatt hour (MWh) this Saturday, July 11, information from data from the Operador del Mercado Ibérico de la Energía (OMIE). That is a 25.91% decrease from the previous day’s rate of 117.85 euros per MWh, offering temporary relief to households and businesses facing high energy costs. The OMIE day-ahead auction sets hourly wholesale prices before electricity is delivered. It is a market benchmark, not the final price on a household bill.
The sharpest drop comes around midday. From 13:00 to 15:00, the wholesale price falls to -0.01 euros per MWh. Negative or near-zero prices can occur when available supply exceeds demand, including during periods of abundant solar generation. ClimateTrade describes the broader market effect as solar “cannibalization”: when photovoltaic plants generate simultaneously during the basic hours of the day, the resulting supply can push down the price received by solar producers. Sector reporting citing OMIE data recorded 397 hours of negative prices in Spain between January and March 2026, compared with 48 hours in the same period of 2025.
Negative or near-zero wholesale prices do not mean free electricity for end users. Final bills still include regulated charges and grid fees, with taxes added, while suppliers’ pricing arrangements determine how directly hourly market movements reach customers. Households on contracts linked to wholesale prices may benefit more directly from low-price hours than customers on fixed-price plans. Where a contract passes through hourly rates, midday periods can offer an chance to run appliances such as washing machines or dishwashers when the energy component is cheapest.
Prices rise sharply in the evening. The day’s highest rate, 155.34 euros per MWh, applies from 21:00 to 22:00, when many people return home and energy demand typically increases. Solar output falls after sunset, while household demand often rises, contributing to the daily contrast between low midday prices and more expensive evening hours. Shifting flexible consumption toward cheaper periods can reduce the energy component of a bill, though fixed charges and taxes remain.
Prices fluctuate widely throughout the day. Early-morning rates remain above 140 euros per MWh until 08:00, then fall steadily to their lowest point in the early afternoon before climbing again in the evening. The full hourly breakdown for July 11 is as follows: 00:00 to 01:00 at 155.03 €/MWh, 01:00 to 02:00 at 148.31 €/MWh, 02:00 to 03:00 at 141.79 €/MWh, 03:00 to 04:00 at 142.89 €/MWh, 04:00 to 05:00 at 149.99 €/MWh, 05:00 to 06:00 at 146.75 €/MWh, 06:00 to 07:00 at 154.34 €/MWh, 07:00 to 08:00 at 149.52 €/MWh, 08:00 to 09:00 at 114.12 €/MWh, 09:00 to 10:00 at 68.45 €/MWh, 10:00 to 11:00 at 16.09 €/MWh, 11:00 to 12:00 at 0.33 €/MWh, 12:00 to 13:00 at 0 €/MWh, 13:00 to 14:00 at -0.01 €/MWh, 14:00 to 15:00 at -0.01 €/MWh, 15:00 to 16:00 at 0 €/MWh, 16:00 to 17:00 at 0.94 €/MWh, 17:00 to 18:00 at 5.57 €/MWh, 18:00 to 19:00 at 39.72 €/MWh, 19:00 to 20:00 at 80.23 €/MWh, 20:00 to 21:00 at 125.73 €/MWh, 21:00 to 22:00 at 155.34 €/MWh, 22:00 to 23:00 at 154.89 €/MWh, and 23:00 to 24:00 at 145.6 €/MWh.
These fluctuations make it impressive to monitor hourly rates and adjust consumption. For many Spanish families, when electricity is used can make a noticeable difference to monthly expenses. Spain’s electricity market combines variable wholesale pricing with additional charges, so even negative wholesale prices do not eliminate consumer costs. Using appliances during cheaper periods remains one way to manage bills when a customer’s contract reflects hourly market prices.
Energy affordability and access remain pressing issues, especially as extreme weather events become more frequent. A recent study in Barcelona found that air conditioning is far less common in low-income households, highlighting the broader challenge of energy inequality. For more on how heatwaves and energy costs intersect in Spain, see this analysis of disparities in summer cooling access: Barcelona’s divide in air conditioning during heatwaves.
Spain’s electricity pricing system reflects changes in supply and demand, leading to large price swings within a single day. High midday solar generation can push wholesale prices toward or below zero, while lower solar output and stronger demand can lift evening rates. Understanding when electricity is cheapest, and how a household contract passes those prices through, is increasingly impressive for managing budgets in a changing energy field.
