TUR natural gas October 2026: new rates and who pays more

Key data

Regulated natural gas bills change from October 1, 2026. The General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines has published the quarterly review of the last resort tariff (TUR), which sets the maximum prices that reference marketers can charge consumers covered by regulated supply. The regulatory reference is the Resolution of September 30, 2026 (BOE-A-2026-20389).

The most relevant change for many organizations is the expansion of the scope of application: property owner associations, residential public buildings and energy service companies can now access the TUR, something that was not as clearly contemplated in previous regulations.

What does this regulation establish?

The TUR is the regulated natural gas tariff that is reviewed quarterly. This resolution sets the prices in effect for the fourth quarter of 2026 and structures the cost in two components: a monthly fixed term (cost of supply access and maintenance) and a variable term (cost per energy consumed).

The 11 tiers are assigned based on the annual consumption of the supply point. Higher consumption means higher monthly fixed term, but the variable term per kWh can vary depending on the tier:

Note: The resolution establishes 11 tiers with exact values for each one. The published data shows the extremes of the range; intermediate tiers are positioned progressively between those values.

Two technical aspects relevant to supply management:

• Raw material price increase limit: The RDL 25/2026, within the framework of the Comprehensive Response Plan to the Crisis in the Middle East, limits the increase in raw material costs to 35% compared to the previous quarter. This acts as a protection ceiling against extreme market volatility.
• Underground storage charges: Only apply to 20 days of consumption. The remaining 40 days are exempt from this charge, which reduces the total storage cost compared to full application.

Economic and operational impact

The direct economic impact depends on the tier in which each supply is located. For lower consumption consumers (tier 1), the fixed term of 3.83 €/month is practically symbolic, but the variable term of 5.25 cent/kWh is the highest on the scale. For large consumers (tier 11), the fixed term of 187,412.84 €/month is very high, but the variable of 3.71 cent/kWh is the lowest.

The accumulated debt mechanism is a critical element for those considering leaving the TUR: if a consumer abandons the regulated tariff before January 1, 2027, they must assume an accumulated average unit debt of 2.051412 cent/kWh. This amount can be significant for consumers with high volumes and should be calculated before making the decision to change marketers.

The partial exemption from underground storage charges (only 20 of the 60 possible days) represents a relief in the final cost of the tariff, especially for consumers in medium and high tiers.

Who does it affect?

• Domestic consumers with natural gas supply covered by the regulated tariff (TUR).
• Property owner associations with common natural gas installations (central heating, collective domestic hot water), now expressly included in the scope of application.
• Residential public buildings (residences, university halls, publicly-owned shelters) that consume gas under regulated tariff.
• Energy service companies (ESE) that manage gas supplies on behalf of third parties under the TUR.
• Consumers considering abandoning the TUR before January 1, 2027, due to the impact of accumulated debt of 2.051412 cent/kWh.

Practical example

A property owner association with central gas heating that consumes, for example, a volume annually that places it in an intermediate tier of the TUR, from October 1, 2026 is expressly covered by the regulated tariff. This means that its reference marketer cannot charge it beyond the limits set in this resolution.

Suppose that association is considering switching to a free market contract. If it does so before January 1, 2027, it must assume the accumulated debt of 2.051412 cent/kWh on the total kWh consumed in the period. For an association with annual consumption of 200,000 kWh, this amounts to an additional charge of approximately 4,102.82 € (200,000 × 0.02051412). An amount that should be calculated before signing any contract change.

Furthermore, being now within the scope of the TUR, the association benefits from the limit of 35% maximum increase in raw material costs compared to the previous quarter, which provides budget predictability against wholesale market volatility.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify which TUR tier you are in: Review your gas bill or contact your reference marketer to confirm the tier (1 to 11) assigned to your supply and the fixed and variable amounts that apply to you from October 2026.
2. Verify if your organization is included in the new scope: If you are a property owner association, a residential public building or an energy service company, confirm with your marketer that your contract reflects express inclusion in the TUR from this resolution.
3. Calculate the cost of leaving the TUR before 01/01/2027: If you are considering switching to free market, multiply your annual consumption in kWh by 0.02051412 to estimate the accumulated debt you must assume. Compare that cost with the expected savings in the free contract before deciding.
4. Review the impact of the 35% limit on your energy budget: The raw material price cap protects against sharp increases. If your company has annual energy budgets, update Q4 2026 forecasts with the new TUR values.
5. Check storage charges on your bill: They should only apply to 20 days of consumption, not the full 60 days. If your bill reflects a higher charge, claim it from your marketer.

Official source

View complete regulation in official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-20389