← FFCheckElectricity & gasPT
Electricity & gas · Portugal
Checked 2026-09-27

🚪 I signed an energy contract at the door or by phone in Portugal. Can I cancel?

The short answer

Contracts made at the door, by phone or online usually come with a cooling-off period in which you can cancel without giving a reason.

📜 The rules in Portugal

Cooling-off period

You can cancel a contract made at a distance (phone, internet) or away from the supplier's premises within 14 days, at no cost and without giving a reason. If it was signed in your home, you have 30 days.

Official source: erse.pt · Checked 2026-09-27

🪜 Step by step

  1. Find the dateThe period usually starts when the contract is made. Look at the confirmation you received.
  2. Cancel in writingSend a clear cancellation by e-mail or letter within the period and keep proof.
  3. Check your old contractIf a switch had already started, tell your old supplier you are staying and check that no exit fee was charged.
  4. Report pushy sellingMisleading or aggressive sales can be reported to the consumer organisation or the regulator below.

📇 Who to contact

DECO - Associação Portuguesa para a Defesa do ConsumidorIndependent advice for consumersFor advice, template letters and a second opinion🔗 www.deco.proteste.pt
Centros de Arbitragem de Conflitos de Consumo (RNCAI)Settles disputes with energy companiesWhen the company has not solved your complaint🔗 www.erse.pt/centros-de-arbitragem
ERSE - Entidade Reguladora dos Serviços EnergéticosSupervises energy companies and explains your rightsFor information, and to report a company that breaks the rules📞 213 033 200🔗 www.erse.pt/consumidores-de-energia

❓ Questions

Do I need a reason?

No. During the cooling-off period you can cancel without a reason.

What if I already used energy?

You may have to pay for energy delivered at your request during the period, but not a penalty.

They said they were from my current supplier. Is that allowed?

No. Pretending to be your supplier is misleading. Report it.

📎 Sources

Checked: 2026-09-27

🧭 Is this still correct?

We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.

🔗 Also useful

🔄Switching supplier→📈Price increase→🧾Wrong or high bill→💸Can’t pay the bill→🏚️Supplier went bust→

More help in Portugal

All other problems: who handles whatWho do I contact?100+ things that go wrong — money, housing, work, safety, health, papers, government — and the one desk in Portugal that actually handles each: phone, site, and what to say when they pick up.Before it goes wrongCan I?What is allowed, what is not, which permit you need — with the official source.Recognise it firstIs dit veilig?Check a phone number, website or message against 47,000 scam dossiers.