Electricity

Electric bills are hand-delivered each month. You may pay them on the spot, or you may pay at the local electric utility office. You may also set up automated monthly bank withdrawal payments.

Electricity is 220v, 50 cycles. Electrical appliances with rotating parts, such as certain electric clocks, electric timers, CD players, and tape recorders will not operate properly unless adapted to 50 cycles. Electric heaters are common sources of heat, although their initial purchase is rather expensive.

Power cuts occasionally occur.

Gas

Natural gas distribution is spotty, and largely confined to greater Lisbon. Where provided, gas bills are hand-delivered each month. You may pay them on the spot, or you may pay at the main gas utility office. You may also set up automated monthly bank withdrawal payments.

LPG tanks are widely used for cooking, residential water heaters and domestic heating. There are LPG vendors located throughout the country.

Many newer apartment buildings maintain a reserve of bottled gas that is distributed to their units via private pipeline.

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