For many households across Spain, gas is probably the last thing on their minds in July. The heating has been off for weeks, windows are open and electricity bills tend to get more attention because of air conditioning.

That’s why today’s increase in Spain’s regulated gas tariff may come as a surprise.

Actually, from this Wednesday July 1,  the price of the regulated Tarifa de Último Recurso (TUR) has risen by an average of 21.5 per cent before tax, meaning households on this tariff will pay more from now on. The increase comes after higher energy costs and the end of a temporary VAT reduction introduced earlier this year.

The timing may feel odd. Why are gas prices going up in the middle of summer, when most people are using much less of it?

Why your gas bill could still go up even if it’s 35C outside

Actually, the price isn’t linked to the weather. Spain’s regulated gas tariff is reviewed every three months, regardless of the season. That means prices can change in July just as easily as they can in January.

This latest review combines two things.

First, the cost used to calculate the regulated tariff has increased following a sharp rise in Brent crude oil prices during the period used for the calculation.

Second, a temporary VAT reduction has now come to an end. The reduced 10 per cent VAT introduced under emergency measures linked to the conflict involving Iran expired on 1 July, meaning the normal 21 per cent rate applies again.

Neither of those changes has anything to do with how much gas you’re using today. They’re simply the way the regulated tariff is calculated.

Who is most likely to feel the increase?

The answer depends on how you use gas at home.

If you only use it for hot water and cooking, you’ll probably notice a smaller impact over the next few months simply because your consumption is relatively low during summer.

If your home also uses gas for heating, you probably won’t feel the full effect immediately either, because your boiler is working far less than it will in winter.

In other words, don’t expect your July bill to suddenly double overnight.

Where this increase becomes more important is later in the year. Unless prices fall again before colder weather arrives, households that rely on gas heating could be paying noticeably more once boilers start running every day again.

Should you do anything now?

For many people, probably not.

If you’re already on the regulated TUR tariff, the increase happens automatically. There is nothing you need to activate or renew.

What is worth doing, however, is checking which tariff you’re actually on. Plenty of people assume they’re paying the regulated price when they’re actually on a commercial contract with an energy supplier.

If your latest bill says TUR, the new prices apply from today.

The government says the average increase for individual regulated tariffs ranges from 19.2 per cent for TUR1 customers to 22 per cent for TUR3, depending on annual gas consumption. Community heating tariffs are also rising, with increases ranging from 14.1 per cent to 22.2 per cent.

That sounds like a big jump, but it’s worth keeping it in context. July is one of the quietest months of the year for gas use in Spain, so many households won’t immediately see a dramatic difference in what they pay.

The bigger question is what happens over the next few months.

The regulated tariff is reviewed again in October, so prices could move in either direction depending on wholesale energy costs and any future government measures.

For now, though, anyone using Spain’s regulated gas tariff should expect one thing: the next bill is unlikely to be cheaper than the last one.

Just when it felt like Spain might finally get a break from the relentless heat, forecasters are warning that another intense spell of scorching weather is already on the horizon. From this thursday, July 2 temperatures are expected to climb once again, with parts of the country likely to top 40C. But what has caught meteorologists’ attention isn’t just the heat itself. It’s where it’s coming from.

Many people assume Spain’s hottest days arrive when scorching air sweeps in from the Sahara. This time, experts say that’s not necessarily the case. Instead, the peninsula is expected to generate much of the heat itself, creating the kind of conditions that can leave cities sweltering for days and nights offering very little relief.

For anyone living in Spain or planning a holiday over the coming week, the result may feel exactly the same. Long afternoons that are too hot for sightseeing, evenings that barely cool down and another stretch of weather where air conditioning becomes less of a luxury and more of a necessity.

Why Spain doesn’t need the Sahara to produce extreme heat

The idea that Spain can become its own source of extreme heat might sound surprising, but meteorologists say it’s something they have been seeing more often in recent summers.

The forecast points to a powerful area of high pressure settling over the Iberian Peninsula from the end of the week. That high pressure acts like a lid on the atmosphere. Sunshine pours in hour after hour, winds remain light and there is very little to disturb the warm air building close to the ground.

As the air slowly sinks, it becomes even warmer and drier. Add in some of the longest days of the year and the result is what forecasters describe as a heat dome, a weather pattern that traps hot air over the same area instead of allowing cooler Atlantic air to move in.

It’s a reminder that Spain doesn’t always need a blast of Saharan air to experience dangerous temperatures. Under the right conditions, the peninsula can effectively become its own hotspot.

That doesn’t mean the Sahara plays no role in Spanish heatwaves. Sometimes hot air from North Africa does combine with these weather patterns, making conditions even more extreme. But according to current forecasts, the atmosphere over Spain is capable of producing plenty of heat on its own.

What people across Spain are likely to notice first

The first thing many people will notice probably won’t be the afternoon temperatures. It will be the nights.

When a heat dome settles over Spain, the heat built up during the day has nowhere to go. Buildings, roads and pavements continue releasing warmth long after sunset, making it difficult for temperatures to fall.

That means many towns and cities could once again experience tropical nights, when temperatures stay above 20C until morning. In some inland areas, forecasters are even warning of torrid nights, where the mercury may struggle to drop below 25C.

For residents, that often becomes the hardest part of a heatwave. Sleeping with the windows open offers little relief if the air outside still feels warm. Fans end up running all night and homes without air conditioning can quickly become uncomfortable.

During the day, inland regions and western Spain are expected to bear the brunt of the heat, with temperatures above 40C becoming increasingly likely if the latest forecasts hold. Coastal areas should remain slightly cooler thanks to sea breezes, although many popular holiday destinations will still experience unusually hot conditions.

There is a chance that isolated thunderstorms could develop as small disturbances move across the upper atmosphere. While they may briefly cool a few local areas, they are not expected to bring widespread relief from the heat.

Why these heat domes are becoming a familiar part of Spanish summers

If it feels as though Spain is seeing more of these prolonged heat episodes, that’s because meteorologists say the weather patterns behind them are becoming increasingly common.

During the recent spell of extreme temperatures, the air mass became exceptionally hot over the Iberian Peninsula before spreading north across France and into central Europe, helping to break temperature records far beyond Spain’s borders.

A similar setup now appears to be developing once again. Forecast models suggest another strong ridge of high pressure will become established over Spain, creating the stable conditions needed for heat to build rapidly over several days.

For many people, the distinction between a Saharan heatwave and one generated largely over Spain probably won’t matter. What matters is how it feels on the ground.

It means planning outdoor activities earlier in the morning, thinking twice before heading out in the middle of the afternoon and accepting that evenings may offer little escape from the heat.

Holidaymakers may find beaches busier than usual as people search for any breeze they can find, while inland cities could become particularly uncomfortable during the hottest hours of the day. Anyone hiking, cycling or visiting historic towns should be prepared for temperatures that can quickly become exhausting.

The latest forecasts may still evolve over the next few days, but one thing already looks increasingly likely. Spain is heading into another period of exceptionally hot weather just days after the last one ended.

And while many people instinctively look south whenever the mercury rises, this time the real story is much closer to home. Under the right atmospheric conditions, Spain doesn’t always need the Sahara to produce a heatwave. Sometimes, the country’s own weather is enough to turn much of the peninsula into one of Europe’s hottest places.

With the height of the summer holiday season still ahead, that is unlikely to be welcome news for residents hoping for cooler evenings or visitors expecting more comfortable conditions. For now, the forecast suggests the heat is not ready to loosen its grip just yet.

Checking into a hotel, hiring a car or signing up for a service often comes with the same request: ‘Can we take a copy of your ID?’ Many people hand it over without a second thought. But Spain’s data protection watchdog says that, in many everyday situations, businesses should not be photocopying or photographing your identity card simply because it is convenient.

The warning is a timely reminder for residents, expats and holidaymakers alike. Under European data protection rules, organisations are expected to collect only the personal information they genuinely need. Holding a full image of someone’s identity document without a valid legal reason could leave businesses facing hefty penalties and expose customers to unnecessary privacy risks.

Why copying your ID could put your personal data at risk

An identity card contains far more information than is usually needed to confirm who you are.

A full copy may reveal your signature, the document’s issue date and other personal details that are irrelevant for routine transactions. According to Spain’s Data Protection Agency (AEPD), keeping complete images of identity documents can breach the data minimisation principle set out in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

That principle requires organisations to collect only the information that is strictly necessary for a specific purpose.

The concern is not simply about paperwork. If a company storing copies of identity documents suffers a cyberattack or data breach, those images could end up in the wrong hands, increasing the risk of identity theft or fraud.

For many customers, that risk is largely invisible. A quick snapshot taken during check in may seem harmless, but once it is stored digitally, it becomes another piece of sensitive personal information that must be protected.

When can a business ask for your ID?

Businesses can still ask to see your identity document when they need to verify who you are. In many cases, visually checking the document or recording only the essential details is enough to meet legal requirements.

The AEPD says companies should choose the least intrusive method available rather than automatically making or storing a complete copy of the document.

There are, however, situations where Spanish law specifically requires organisations to retain identity information. Those legal obligations remain unchanged. The agency’s warning is aimed at cases where businesses routinely copy identity documents without a clear legal basis.

Importantly, the watchdog also points out that a customer’s consent alone does not automatically make the practice lawful. If there is no legal justification for storing a copy of the document, asking the customer for permission does not remove the company’s responsibilities under data protection law.

What are your rights if you’re asked for a copy of your ID?

If a business asks to photocopy or photograph your identity document, you are entitled to ask why the copy is needed, what legal basis the company is relying on and how your information will be stored.

If there is no legal obligation requiring the business to keep a copy, the AEPD says customers have the right to refuse and can suggest alternative ways of confirming their identity, such as allowing staff to inspect the document without retaining an image.

The watchdog is also reminding businesses that failing to comply with data protection rules can be expensive. In the most serious cases, sanctions can reach €100,000, reflecting the importance of handling personal data responsibly.

As concerns over online privacy and identity fraud continue to grow, the message from Spain’s data protection authority is straightforward: businesses should only collect the information they genuinely need, and customers should not feel obliged to surrender more personal data than the law requires.