Portugal Telecom offers a range of services for residential and business customers: installation and connection of telephone lines, broadband (adsl & cable) internet and sells a wide range of telephones including the latest 3G Pocket PC Phone.

PT currently have a very good deal for those needing a new phone line installed – PTPrimeira Vez sem fios PTEasy

Installation of a new phone line plus a cordless phone, all for only 49 euros.

World Brokers

World Brokers Telecom offers the lowest rates on the market for domestic users. Make a call to the UK (or most other northern European countries) during the day for the same price PT charges for a national call within Portugal. It’s as if your family and friends are just around the corner. Not only that, but national calls within Portugal are up to 27% cheaper than the PT price.
World Brokers customer services speak English and German as well as Portuguese, and you can request your bill in one of these languages.

No need to change your existing phone line and no need to dial lengthy prefixes before phone numbers. Just fill in the application form and let World Brokers do the rest.

Directory Enquiries in English

DQ in English, established last year by The Portugal News and World Brokers Telecom to serve the English speaking ex-patriot community in Portugal who find local directories confusing or inadequate. This is much more than a simple number finding service. If you need information, recommendations, contacts or even products, DQ operators can call on the resources, companies database and contacts of Portugal’s National Newspaper in English to locate what you need.

Bottled gas safety

• Wherever possible keep bottles outside buildings, in secure, well-ventilated store rooms.
• Bottles must have a pressure reducing valve, reduction valves for propane are set to different pressures to those for butane and it is dangerous to use the incorrect valve.
• Flexible rubber tubes should be less than 80cm long, and be stamped with the numbers IPQ ET 1038 or NP 1038, and the date of validity. Each end of the tube must be properly clamped to the fitting.
• Always keep gas bottles in an upright position, with the valve on top, and protect the reducer valve from damage.
• Always keep gas bottles above ground level, never place them where gas can accumulate in a basement or other low spot.
• Never let gas bottles get hot, keep them at least 1.5 metres from ovens and other sources of heat.

How to request a new domestic supply

You can request a new domestic supply by phone (800 246 246) or at the local office of your electricity distribution company. Their offices have a wide range of information brochures so they are worth a visit.

You will need the following documentation:

• Proof of your identity: Identity card (Bilhete de Identidade) or Residência, Tax Registration Card (Cartão de Contribuinte), or Passport.
• Proof of legal occupation of the premises, such as land -tax registration (Caderneta Predial), rental agreement, or purchase contract (Escritura de Compra).

For new premises you will also need to provide a plan of the layout of the building, the occupation approval (Licença de Habitação), a map showing the location of the premises, a summary of the circuits (ficha electrotécnica) and a registered electrician’s certification of the installation (declaração de responsabilidade).

You will also need to decide:

• Which tariff you require (social, standard, or night-rate).
• What capacity you will need. This depends on the equipment you will use. For a modern household you will normally need at least 6,900KVA, but with the full-range of equipment even 10,350KVA may not be sufficient. The highest normal domestic capacity is 19.8 KVA.
• Whether the installation should be single-phase or three-phase.
• How you are going to pay the bills. If you choose to pay by direct debit you will not have to pay a deposit.

The first step is the request for the connection and installation of the meter (a baixada). If power cables are close to the house this normally takes only a few days. Once this is complete EDP will draw up a contract and you will be asked to sign the original. A charge (about 5 euros) will be added to the first invoice to cover handling and legal costs incurred.

How to change the name on the contract

The procedure is similar but requires fewer documents than the connection of new premises.

Methods of payment

You may pay EDP by bank transfer, Multibanco, cash or cheque.

The advantage of payment by bank transfer is that EDP waives the deposit and payment is made without any additional charges. You should receive the invoice before your account is debited, giving time for you to check the amounts and to contact EDP if a correction is needed. If you wish to pay be direct debit contact your local EDP office or telephone their free-phone number.

To pay by Multibanco, choose the option “Pagamento de Serviços”, and enter in the numbers identifying the organisation (Entidade), the invoice reference (Referência), and the amount in Euros (Montante). These numbers are on the left of the payment slip attached to the invoice.

Local EDP offices and Post Offices will accept payments in cash, cheque, or postal order (vale postal). You may also send cheques by post. When paying by cheque or postal order you should write the location code (número de identificação do local) on the back. This code is given on the invoice.

Estimated bills

EDP only reads the electricity meters occasionally, sometimes not even once per year. Most bills are therefore estimates based on previous consumption. Often estimates are much lower than the real consumption. When this occurs the correction is made after the next meter reading. This can result in a sudden high bill. There are two ways to avoid such an unpleasant surprise:

Firstly, you can opt for EDP’s scheme for constant monthly payments by direct debit, Conta Certa EdP. Under this scheme you pay the same value each month, based on estimates of your previous consumption. At the end of the year, EDP read the meter and correct the bill. If you have overpaid they deposit the money in your account. If you owe EDP the amount is added to you bill over the next three months. Alternatively, you can read the meter yourself and call the freephone number indicated on your account. Follow the recorded instructions (only in Portuguese) and key in the information requested using the phone buttons. You do not have to speak!

Saving on energy costs

You can make significant savings by opting for a Bi- Horário meter. The unit cost of energy at economic (vazio) is a reduced rate, but the rental of a night meter is slightly more expensive. If you have a 3,450 KVA installation, you will need to use at least 70kWh per month. You can choose between a daily cycle or a weekly cycle.

There are still many areas without mains electricity supplies, especially in the more remote countryside. The installation of new lines takes time as it depends on the availability of finance. If you do not wish to wait for the installation of the public system, or prefer to be independent, there are a number of options available. For larger power demands the cheapest option will be a generator.