Electricity Costs in El Salvador
Prices per kWh, third quarter of 2026
| User | Monthly use | Price per kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial | 500,000 kWh | $0.1906 |
| Commercial | 50,000 kWh | $0.2408 |
| Residential | 65 kWh | $0.2382 |
| Residential | 30 kWh | $0.2539 |
Source: pv magazine Latin America: Osinergmin study of electricity tariffs in Latin America, third quarter of 20261
The figures come from Osinergmin’s quarterly comparison of Latin American tariffs, as reported by pv magazine. DelSur, one of the distributors, has said its tariff is about $0.20 per kWh and has been stable for five years.1,4
Who sets the tariffs
Until July 2026 tariffs were approved by SIGET, the electricity and telecoms regulator, every three months; its last published schedule ran from 1 May to 31 July 2026. Decree No. 620 (Diario Oficial, 8 July 2026) moved the electricity powers to the Directorate General of Energy, Hydrocarbons and Mines (DGEHM) from 17 July 2026.5,6
Bills include an energy charge, a distribution charge and a monthly commercialisation charge, which are set each year; for CAESS the commercialisation charge in 2026 is $0.871126 a month per customer.7
Two views on rising costs
- Distributors said in 2026 that tariffs had not been raised during the year.
- Wholesale prices rose about 125% in the first half of 2026, according to market data reported by Diario El Mundo, and the central bank’s producer price index for electricity and gas was 23.10% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier.
- Consumer advocates: the Consumer Defence Centre (CDC) said in September 2026 that household bills for 190 kWh had risen by 20% to 25%; the distributors did not respond to the report.
- The government: in October 2026 the President said he expected tariffs to fall after a power investment by Grupo COX.
Source: El Salvador.com: electricity tariffs stable in 2026, say distributors; Diario El Mundo: power generation cost up 125% in the first half of 2026; Infobae: energy costs for Salvadoran companies up 23% in a year, BCR data; Infobae: household electricity bills up to 25% higher, says specialist, September 2026; Infobae: President Bukele expects lower electricity tariffs after Grupo COX investment, October 20268,2,3,9,10
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does electricity cost in El Salvador?
A study by Osinergmin, Peru’s energy regulator, put the price for a commercial user of 50,000 kWh a month at $0.2408 per kWh and for an industrial user of 500,000 kWh at $0.1906 in the third quarter of 2026.
Have electricity tariffs risen in 2026?
Distributors say tariffs have not risen in 2026, while wholesale prices and business energy costs have gone up.
How much did wholesale power prices rise?
The wholesale price of power rose 125% in the first half of 2026.
Sources
- pv magazine Latin America: Osinergmin study of electricity tariffs in Latin America, third quarter of 2026 (in Spanish)
- Diario El Mundo: power generation cost up 125% in the first half of 2026 (in Spanish)
- Infobae: energy costs for Salvadoran companies up 23% in a year, BCR data (in Spanish)
- Diario El Mundo: electricity tariff would stay stable despite higher oil prices, says DelSur (in Spanish)
- SIGET: electricity tariff schedules from 1 May to 31 July 2026 (in Spanish)
- SIGET: notice on the transfer of electricity powers (in Spanish)
- La Prensa Gráfica: commercialisation and distribution charges for 2026 (in Spanish)
- El Salvador.com: electricity tariffs stable in 2026, say distributors (in Spanish)
- Infobae: household electricity bills up to 25% higher, says specialist, September 2026 (in Spanish)
- Infobae: President Bukele expects lower electricity tariffs after Grupo COX investment, October 2026 (in Spanish)
Figures checked 8 November 2026. Prepared by InvestSalvador.com for general information. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; please confirm details with a qualified adviser before acting.
