Setting up utilities in Portugal is the priority after renting or buying a house. Electricity and water are basic necessities; gas is an option; phone and Internet service are pretty much crucial in today’s world. However, setting these up after moving to a completely different country can be a headache, so we’ve thoroughly assembled this guide to help you out. When you partner up with Pearls of Portugal, we can take this process off your hands.
Let us know which utilities services you want to setup!
There are some basic documents you need in order to sign any type of utility contract in Portugal:
If you’re moving into an apartment, the water and electricity metres (“contadores”) are usually in the building lobby or on your floor. If you have built a house from scratch, then you’ll also need to get the equipment installed.
The better known provider in Portugal is EDP. Some other options are Endesa, Galp Energia and Iberdrola. This is the simplest of all utilities processes – you can get it all done via phone call and instant messaging. With EDP, you’re certain to be able to talk to someone who’s fluent in English. All you need to provide in the phone call is your personal information, equipment number and address. Then, you’ll be asked to send over your proof of residence via WhatsApp or e-mail – it’s quite simple.
Buildings nowadays (especially apartment complexes) are usually only dependent on electricity, with no need for gas. However, if that’s not the case for you, you need to add a natural gas contract. Dual contracts (electricity and natural gas) often have associated offers and promotions, making them more cost-effective.
A new electricity or natural gas contract is free unless you lack a connection to your property, which is common when you’re building a house from scratch. In that case, you must contact your energy distributor (E-redes) and/or gas distributor to go install it. Energy contracts are generally cheaper than dual contracts due to rising gas prices, since all around Europe. For a two-bedroom flat for two people with a contracted power of 3,45kVA, you can expect a monthly electricity bill of €60/€70 in the summer and €90/100 in the winter.
For domestic use, common power levels are:
Now, this is the trickiest part. Water providers differ from city to city, or region to region. In some places, the water service is public and managed by the local city council (Câmara Municipal), while in others it is managed by a private company. So when you move to your new area, you must do your research on the water provider there.
For example, if you plan to live in the general North of Portugal, ‘Águas do Norte’ is most likely your supplier. However, if your home is in Porto or Braga, for instance, the supplier changes to ‘Águas do Porto’ and ‘Agere’, respectively. So it’s really case by case.
Nevertheless, the process itself shouldn’t be too difficult. In some cases, like ‘Águas do Porto’ and ‘EPAL’ (the Lisbon supplier), you can do it all online (if you already have the systems installed in your home). If you bought or built a house, then you’ll probably need to get a metre installed – which is an in-person procedure, obviously.
As previously stated, water services differ greatly throughout the country, and so do the prices. If you need to install a metre, it’ll cost between 50-100€ (including the connection fee, meter and labor) plus setting up a contract, which is around 40€. Even if you’re just renting, you’ll need to get the water contract on your home changed to your name, which also has a cost of ~30€.
Apart from this, water bills in Portugal are usually not too expensive. The regular price for a couple in a two-bedroom is around 30€ to 40€. But you should definitely search for the rates in your area. For example, the Porto and Lisbon prices tables are easy to find.
More often than not, people get all their communication services under the same provider and contract, as it makes both the set up and the paying processes easier and cheaper. These are the major providers in Portugal:
Providers offer packages for four services (TV, WIFI, Landline, and Cellphone). When choosing your provider and packages, consider the following:
You should check out the providers’ websites to see what works better for you. The most basic plan is around 20€ for a phone SIM card and service plus unlimited wi-fi in your home. While four-service packages cost approximately €27 (Nowo) or
€63.99 (NOS, MEO, Vodafone). They usually always have some sort of discount going on also, most of the time with special benefits, like 6 months of a streaming service for free or discounted rates for the first five months.
The process is also quite simple and the contract part can be done all through a phone call. As for the set-up, you arrange a date for the supplier’s technician to get the equipment installed in your home – it shouldn’t take too long and it’s generally “free” with any contract.
Buildings in Portugal aren’t insulated in general, so it gets very cold inside during the winter. You’ll definitely have to think about heating options. If you’re building your house from scratch, getting a fireplace, pellet stove (“fogão a lenha”) or underfloor heating are some great options. If your property is already built or you’re just renting, heaters and air conditioning are your best options. However, as stated before, these can really get your electricity bill up. Be aware and bring your coziest indoor clothing, pyjamas and bedding.
After you rent or buy a house with Pearls, we will help you set up any utilities you need in Portugal, plus answer any questions you might have, based both on our market knowledge and on our personal experiences with these services. This is all included in your buyer’s agent and long-term rental contracts.
Unfortunately yes, Portugal has some of the highest electricity prices in Europe, sitting at €0.2246 per kWh.
Tap water in Portugal is generally very high quality, so yes.
Water prices vary greatly by region, since they are managed by different companies. Places like Lisbon tend to be more expensive; however, sitting at €1.63 per cubic meter (Source: Water News Europe).
Yes, DECO Proteste is an organization that acts in defense of the consumer when they have been wronged by a company.
You can opt to pay via Direct Debit, which warrants discounts, most of the time, or you can receive the bill and choose to pay it how you want – through your bank app, in person at an ATM or in some CTT offices.
This, of course, depends on how much data and phone minutes you need. Some popular phone plans (or ‘tarifários’, in Portuguese) are NOS’s WTF, which is around 20€ or Vodafone’s YORN, also around 24€ per month. Alternatively, you can opt to include your phone in your general communications contract, which can be cheaper.
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8 Responses
It seems like it might be a good idea to get your house insulated if you own it. Why are houses not insulated?
Since Portugal is a rather warm country compared to others in Europe, constructors oftentimes don’t think of insulation as a priority when building a house or building since it can be expensive. It has been like this for decades, unfortunately. But measures – such as double glazing on windows, for example – are becoming increasingly common nowadays.
Hello,
My husband and I are from UK and Italy. We are looking for information on how to obtain a utility bill, and a local address. We have residency and NIF.
Can we book an appointment with you for 9 am on Monday morning, the 18th?
Thanks!
Amy
Hi Amy! You can book an appointment here: https://meet.brevo.com/pearlsofportugal
Thank you
I just bought an apartment in Espinho from the developer. It is new. How long does it take for each of the 3 services to be turned on after I apply for them? Do I need to be at my apartment when the electricity and water supplies are turned on?
Hello Michael,
I hope you´re doing well.
Usually, the time it takes to get each utility connected can vary a bit, but in general:
Electricity: It can take between 1 to 5 business days. It’s often quicker if the meter is already installed. You’ll likely need to be at the apartment for the initial connection, especially if access to the electrical panel is required.
Water: It usually takes 1 to 3 business days. You may need to be present, depending on the company and whether the meter is already accessible.
Gas: This tends to take the longest — up to 5 to 10 business days. It almost always requires a technical inspection, and in that case, someone must be present at the apartment.
I recommend contacting the utility companies as soon as possible to schedule any necessary visits.
If you have any further questions, we are happy to answer them.
Kind Regards!
Hi
I’ve just purchased a semi-ruined building in the Castelo Branco area.
I had planned to restore the building and live off grid however having mains electric and water might be beneficial.
There is a mains water pipe about 20 meters away and an electricity pole about 30 meters away.
Do you know roughly how much it would cost to get these services connected and once connected, is there a monthly charge regardless of usage or would I only pay for the electricity and water used?
I am happy to pay for what I use but I don’t want reoccurring monthly bills.
Kind regards Jerry
Hello Jerry,
In Portugal both water and electricity connections have an initial cost and mandatory monthly fees, even if you use nothing.
Water (20 m from the main):
– Connection usually costs €300–€1,000.
– There is always a fixed monthly fee (€4–€12), even with zero consumption.
Electricity (pole 30 m away):
– E-Redes connection typically costs €500–€2,500.
– There is always a fixed monthly charge (€8–€18), even with no usage.
If you want no recurring bills at all, the only option is to stay off-grid (solar + well/borehole).