Discounts on the electricity social voucher are reduced and transport aid is changed.

The inflation shield is beginning to prepare its farewell. Starting this Tuesday, beneficiaries of the electricity social bonus will experience a reduction in their discounts, which public transport users will also begin to notice. However, protection against power outages will remain in effect until the end of the year . Until December 31, 2025, inclusive, the suspension of electricity, natural gas, and water supplies to consumers who are vulnerable, severely vulnerable, or at risk of social exclusion will not be possible, according to the department headed by Sara Aagesen .

More than one and a half million people currently benefit from the electricity social bonus in our country. Beneficiaries are divided into vulnerable, severely vulnerable, and at risk of social exclusion . Andalusia is the autonomous community with the highest number of people receiving these benefits, with 345,790 beneficiaries. It is followed by the Valencian Community , with 220,412; Catalonia , with 186,253; and the Community of Madrid , with 185,524, according to official data published by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.

Thus, the reduction in the electricity bill of those who benefit from this social voucher will go from 50% to 42.5% for vulnerable consumers and from 65% to 57.5% for severely vulnerable households , until December 31, 2025. Likewise, that percentage of the population who benefit from the voucher and are at risk of social exclusion , being cared for by the social services of a regional or local administration, and who pay at least 50% of the bill will not have to face the electricity bill and, in the event of temporary non-payment, they cannot be deprived of their electricity supply. The same applies to those who benefit from the social voucher and are part of a family unit with at least one minor under 16 years of age, a person in a situation of dependency of degree II or III or a person with a recognized disability greater than or equal to 33%.

Starting this Tuesday, thousands of families will see their monthly electricity bills increase compared to the previous month. The change in the charging percentage does not end this protection instrument, but rather reduces the enhanced discounts launched in 2022, when Spain was in the midst of an energy crisis.

Since the summer of 2024, this aid, which is directly reflected in the consumer's bill, has been reduced in a series of ways, culminating in December of this year. Thus, this reduction will not be the final and definitive one: starting January 1, 2026 , the discount for both vulnerable and severely vulnerable consumers will stabilize at 35% and 50% , respectively.

It's worth noting that the social electricity bonus went into effect on December 25, 2016, by royal decree. Initially, before the implementation of the government's additional measures due to the energy crisis, it was launched with a 25% discount for vulnerable households and a 40% discount for severely vulnerable households, with the goal of protecting vulnerable electricity consumers.

As for public transport , aid will be reduced for the first time since the Government approved it in September 2022. From today, July 1, discounts on multi-trip tickets and passes for urban and intercity transport will be reduced from 50% to 40% and will be co-financed equally between the Government and autonomous communities (20% each), when until now the Executive contributed 30% and the communities a minimum of 20% (Madrid, for example, supported with 30% up to a total of 60% subsidized).

The 50% discount will only apply to youth season tickets issued by regional and local governments , while it will be completely free for children under 15.

But that's not the only new feature. Starting this Tuesday, commuter rail will no longer be free, and a single ticket will be implemented, allowing users to access any commuter rail network in Spain, including the Rodalies service in Catalonia. This ticket will cost €20 per month in general; €10 for young people between 15 and 26 years old, and free for those under 15. This new system will serve as a test bed for the single public transport ticket that Óscar Puente 's department hopes to have ready by next year. For now, the Renfe fare structure will be as follows:

- A monthly nominative subscription with a flat rate of 20 euros.

- A monthly, nominative, flat-rate pass of 10 euros for young people aged 15 to 26, inclusive.

- A free annual nominative pass for children (under 15 years old).

In addition, a 10-trip multi-person pass has been created for commuter train zones and hubs with a 40% discount, valid for use during the year following the date of its first effective use, always before December 31, 2025.

Meanwhile, conventional medium-distance passes will have a 40% discount and will be free for children. For young people between 15 and 26 years old, the discount increases to 50%, while Avant passes will maintain a 50% discount until the end of the year. Similarly, starting today, state-owned bus services will have discounts of between 40% and 70% depending on age and the type of pass purchased.

Thus, up to four new multi-trip tickets will be introduced on bus lines operated by the Ministry of Transport . To begin with, a 10-trip multi-person pass will be created, with a single origin and destination, with discounts of 40% until December 31, 2025. A monthly pass for those over 26 will also be introduced, the purchase price of which will be equivalent to 20 single tickets with a 50% discount.

For young people between 15 and 26 years old, a monthly personal youth pass with unlimited rides is also being introduced. The price will be equivalent to the imported price of 20 single tickets with a 70% discount. For children under 15 , this pass will be free of charge.

The Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands are immune to all these changes, as they will maintain free public transport throughout 2025.