To take out a gas, electricity or water contract in Portugal, nothing could be simpler, as long as you can go directly to the establishments concerned with the necessary documents. As with many procedures, the waiting time can be long, in the hope that you do not have to return because of missing documents in your file.
This will be one of the first steps in settling in Lisbon or elsewhere with your renting or buying a property in Portugal. Be aware that some rentals do not have electricity on the first day of your installation, so you will have to anticipate or accept this situation while your contract is being set up. The latter can also in the case of a rental and for more convenience, remain in the name of your landlord so that there is no interruption.
Opening an electricity contract in Portugal
You will need various documents to open your electricity contract in Portugal :
- Your identity card, passport or driving licence
- Your Contributor Number (TIN)
- Your rental contract or proof of purchase
- A RIB (Bank Identity Record)
There are special cases for buildings, which will require your operating agreement. The same is true for companies: in this case you will need the identification card of the company in Portugal or elsewhere and your company contract.
There are different service providers such as EDP, Endesa, Gold energy, Galp… They offer contracts for gas and electricity. You can also choose to take out a contract for each energy with different companies. As EDP is the most widespread in Portugal, prices can vary from one supplier to another.
It should be kept in mind that electricity is generally more expensive than in many European countries and that homes are generally not very isolated. Electricity consumption is therefore higher in winter in Portugal but very low during the rest of the year when it is generally very hot. It is therefore important to calculate your electricity budget for the year.
Ouvrir un contrat d’eau portugais
There are several scenarios. Some locations in Portugal will provide you with water free of charge: it is of course untreated and unfit for consumption, but you might find it interesting if you buy a house with a large garden, a swimming pool or 3 bathrooms occupied every morning. The water remains completely clean for personal hygiene but you will have to buy water in cans for cooking and drinking.
Other locations do not allow you to choose treated and clean water for consumption. You have to pay for it and the water company varies from one location to another. For example, you will have the BEWATER company if you live in Mafra or SMAS Leira if you live in Leiria. The price of water varies from one company to another but you should expect to pay an average of 20€ per month for regular use by a couple with one child.
As with your electricity contract, you will be asked to present certain documents for its opening:
- An identity document (such as a passport or identity card).
- Your tax number (TIN), called the “contributor number”.
- Your contract for the purchase or rental of your home
- a RIB if you wish to make direct debit payments
If you do not wish to have your bills automatically debited from your bank account, you can pay your bills through the automatic teller machines called “Multibanco”, which can be found all over the city: they allow you to pay services such as gas, electricity or water bills directly each month.
The intervention of technicians in your home will be necessary in order to read your meters and/or possibly set up the gas, electricity or water supply for some homes.
Opening a gas contract in Portugal
In Portugal there are also two cases in which access to gas is required. In Lisbon, you will most likely have to open an account with a specialised company. But elsewhere you may have to buy gas bottles that will have to be changed regularly. As a user of this system, I would advise you to always have a spare gas bottle so that you don’t find yourself in an unpleasant situation. On average, it will take one to one and a half bottles of gas every two months. These are billed at around 25€ per bottle. The price will be higher if you don’t bring your empty bottle with you when you buy the new one.
You should also be aware that there are companies that deliver and install your gas cylinders directly at your home. Just call them in the morning and you will have your new cylinders within two hours.
