social tariff

What is the social tariff?

The social tariff is a support for customers with socio-economic needs, to receive a discount on their electricity or gas bill.

Can I benefit from the social rate?

All customers can benefit from the Social Tariff, as long as they meet the conditions set out in the legislation.
The Social Tariff began to be automatically assigned from the 1st of July 2016 as indicated by the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology, and it is no longer mandatory for the customer to send documentation.

What are the conditions to benefit from the social tariff?

• Hold an electricity and/or gas contract for domestic use in your permanent home. You can only enjoy it in a single home;
• Have a contracted power of less than or equal to 6.9 kVA for electricity and scale 1 or 2 for gas supply;
• Benefit from social support or have an annual income lower than the maximum annual income as indicated below:

Social support:  

a) Solidarity supplement for the elderly
b) Social insertion income
c) Unemployment benefit*
d) Family benefit (1st step for Gas)
e) Social disability pension from the special disability protection regime or from the supplement to the social benefit for inclusion **
f) Social old-age pension (not included in gas)

*Until 27/11/2020, the eligible social benefit was the “Social unemployment benefit”. With the entry into force on 11/27/2020 of DL no. 100/2020. The unemployment benefits currently eligible for the Social Electricity Tariff are: unemployment benefit, partial unemployment benefit, initial unemployment social benefit, subsequent unemployment social benefit, extension of unemployment social benefit, benefit for cessation of professional activity of Membership of Statutory Bodies (MOE), allowance for cessation of business activity, allowance for cessation of activity of economically dependent Independent Worker (IT), partial allowance for cessation of activity and support for the long-term unemployed.

**Introduced with the entry into force on 27/11/2020 of DL no. 100/2020, until then the eligible benefit was the “Social disability pension”

Maximum annual income:

The household must have an income equal to or less than the maximum annual income (5,808€ plus 50% for each member of the household who does not earn any income, up to a maximum of 10), according to the values below:
Tax Domicile Maximum annual income to be eligible

The calculation of the maximum annual income, by the Tax and Customs Authority (AT), is carried out in accordance with paragraph 2 of article 3 of Ordinance no. 311 D/2011, of December 27, amended by Ordinance no. 289 -B/2015, of September 17th, verifying the criteria for the condition of economic insufficiency. This check is reviewed annually in September, taking into account the household situation and income from the previous tax year to which it relates.

What is the value of the discount for the Social Tariff allocation for Electricity and Gas?

The Social Tariff on electricity and gas corresponds to a discount on the network access tariff and applies to the contracted power and the price of energy consumption. You can check the respective access rates and discounts for the two sectors here:

Electricity: https://www.erse.pt/atividade/regulacao/tarifas-e-precos-eletricidade/
Gas: https://www.erse.pt/atividade/regulacao/tarifas-e-precos-gas-natural/

How can I request the allocation of the Social Tariff?

As an alternative to the automatic Social Tariff attribution process, you can present us with proof issued by the competent authorities, such as a document from Social Security or other equivalent institutions (see below) or by the Tax and Customs Authority, which confirms that you have entitled to the Social Tariff.
This proof must include the name, the respective NIF and the permanent address of the holder of the energy contract, which must correspond to the address of the place of consumption where you intend to benefit from the social discount.
To request the allocation of the Social Tariff, you must send the indicated documents to the email contratacao@audaxrenewables.pt or by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt to the address Avenida das Tulipas Nº 6 – 18ª Andar – 1495-158 Algés.

Institutions equivalent to Social Security:

• ADESE – General Directorate of Social Protection for Public Administration Employees and Agents
• IASFA – Institute of Social Action of the Armed Forces
• CGA – Caixa Geral de Aposentações
• CPAS – Lawyers and Solicitors Pension Fund

Can I continue to benefit from the Social Tariff if I change address?

Yes, you may continue to be entitled to the Social Tariff at your new address, but the discount will be deactivated at your current address and will be granted at your new address. Since this process is not immediate, we recommend that you send proof issued by the competent authorities, such as Social Security or equivalent institutions or the Tax and Customs Authority, confirming that you are entitled to this benefit at your new address. To do this, you can send the documentation to the address of Audax Renovables SA – Branch in Portugal, Avenida das Tulipas Nº 6 – 18ª Andar – 1495-158 Algés.
Download the form here

Contribution to Audiovisual (CAV)

The reduced CAV (worth €1) was created in 2016 and is automatically awarded by DGEG (General Directorate of Energy and Geology) which will identify eligible customers according to legally determined criteria**.
**Law no. 30/2003, of August 22, has already been amended by Decrees-Laws no. 169-A/2005, of October 3, 230/2007, of June 14, and 107/2010, of October 13th, and by Laws no. 83-C/2013, of December 31st and no. 7-A/2016

Can I refuse access to the Social Tariff?

Yes, to do this, simply download the Social Tariff refusal form for electricity and/or natural gas, and send it by email to contracao@audaxrenewables.pt, or to the address, Avenida das Tulipas Nº 6 – 18ª Andar – 1495- 158 Algés.
We would like to add that if you refuse, you will no longer benefit from the Social Tariff discount on your invoice and will also no longer be included in the automatic validation process for assigning the Social Tariff by the General Directorate of Energy and Geology (DGEG).

Can I cancel the refusal and once again enjoy the right to the Social Tariff?

Yes, if you have refused the social tariff and want to be considered again in the process, download the form below and fill it in, for electricity and/or natural gas. You must then send the form and proof by email to contracao@audaxrenewables.pt, or to the address, Avenida das Tulipas Nº 6 – 18ª Andar – 1495-158 Algés.

Even if you meet the eligibility conditions for the Social Tariff, sending the form does not result in the immediate application of the discount to the invoice. To take advantage of this social discount, you must present a document proving your right to the Social Tariff or wait for the automatic allocation process.

Audax Renovables SA - Branch in Portugal
211 205 758 - Weekdays from 9am to 6pm
(call to national landline)
contratacao@audaxrenewables.pt

Social Security
210 545 400 or 300 502 502 - Weekdays from 9am to 6pm
(call to national landline)
www.seg-social.pt

Tributary and customs authority
217 206 707 - Weekdays from 9am to 7pm
(call to national landline)
www.portaldasfinancas.gov.pt

DGEG
217 922 700/800 - Weekdays from 9:00-12:30 and 14:00-17:00
(call to national landline)
www.dgeg.pt

Download the form here:

• SOCIAL TARIFF BROCHURE 2024
• SOCIAL TARIFF BROCHURE 2022
• SOCIAL RATE REFUSAL CANCELLATION FORM
• SOCIAL RATE REQUEST FORM
• SOCIAL RATE REFUSAL FORM
• CUSTOMER LIST INTEGRATION REQUEST FORM