District heating, heating oil or bottled gas in Portugal: what are my rights?
Not every home is on the gas grid. District heating, heating oil and LPG have their own rules, and often a different body handles complaints.
📜 The rules in Portugal
Heating without the gas grid
Many homes use bottled LPG (butane or propane). Its prices are free and vary by seller; ERSE supervises bottled LPG prices and runs a price comparator showing where to buy. Every fuel station must sell bottled LPG, unless ERSE grants an exemption.
- ERSE can exempt a fuel station, for example on motorways, where storage cannot be made safe, or where a piped natural gas network makes bottle sales uneconomic. (erse.pt)
- Botija de Gás Solidária: beneficiaries of the electricity social tariff (TSEE) and of certain minimum social benefits get support per LPG bottle, up to two a month and 12 a year, paid by participating parish councils (juntas de freguesia). Valid in 2026 while funds last. (dgeg.gov.pt)
🪜 Step by step
- Know what heats your homeDistrict heating from a network, oil or LPG from a tank, or bottled gas. The rules differ for each.
- Check the rules for PortugalSee below who supervises heat and fuel suppliers and what they must tell you about prices.
- Complain in writing firstWrite to the heat or fuel supplier with your bill and what you want changed. Keep a copy.
- Escalate to the right bodyIf that does not help, go to the body named below.
📇 Who to contact
❓ Questions
Can I leave district heating?
That depends on the network and the rules in Portugal. Contracts are often long; check the notice terms.
Are heating oil prices regulated?
Usually not; you compare offers. Where there is an official price or cap, it is shown on this page.
Who checks the safety of LPG tanks and bottles?
The supplier and the installer have safety duties. If you smell gas, leave at once and call the emergency number from outside.
📎 Sources
- erse.pt →
- erse.pt →
- dgeg.gov.pt →
- erse.pt →
- livroreclamacoes.pt →
- fundoambiental.anafre.pt →
- deco.proteste.pt →
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