In Portugal, families with very low incomes can benefit from the social electricity tariff even without receiving any social benefit, as long as they work and meet the economic criteria set out in Article 196 of Decree-Law No. 15/2022. The Directorate-General for Energy and Geology (DGEG) is the entity responsible for managing this benefit, which is often associated only with pensioners, unemployed persons or social benefit recipients.
The total annual household income cannot exceed 6,272.64 euros, and this limit increases by 50% (3,136.32 euros) for each member without income, including the contract holder themselves. Thus, a household with one member without income can reach 9,408.96 euros annually, and with two members without income it can reach 12,545.28 euros. The calculation is not based on monthly net salary multiplied by 12, but rather on data from the Tax Authority, which considers all gross income.
In 2026, the social tariff discount corresponds to 33.8% compared to the transitional tariff for sale to final customers of electricity in the regulated market, applied through network access tariffs. This benefit can be used by both regulated market and free market customers. According to DGEG, in August 2026, 747,292 electricity customers and 56,411 natural gas customers benefited from this tariff, totaling 803,703 beneficiaries.
The assignment of the social tariff is automatic, made by DGEG through data matching with the Tax Authority and Social Security, without the need for an application by the consumer. However, if a person believes they meet the requirements and does not have the benefit applied, they can file a complaint with DGEG or request a certificate from the Tax Authority or Social Security to deliver to the supplier.
