Joining the community has changed the way I interact with my energy provider and manage my energy use. Instead of simply visiting the store to pay my bill, I now take an active interest in understanding my consumption, which helped me choose a new electricity program that better fits my needs. It’s a simple change, but it helps me keep my bills lower and know that I’m contributing to a better environment.

The process of preparing for membership of the future Energy Community in the Municipality of Cascais has been one of exhaustive learning and reflection. It was immediately apparent that the collective self-consumption model is currently the simplest to implement, with consolidated rules and more accessible administrative procedures.

On the other hand, participation in an energy community involves a significantly higher degree of complexity, both legally and organisationally. The absence of a fully operational legal framework has made it difficult for local authorities to integrate into this type of structure. To date, no Portuguese municipality has officially joined an energy community, which underlines the pioneering nature of the work carried out in Cascais.

The project is still in the development phase, but the experience gained has allowed EMAC and the municipality to consolidate their knowledge and promote a strategic vision based on cooperation, sustainability and sharing. This journey symbolises a significant step towards a more equitable and inclusive energy transition, in which energy is conceived as a common good at the service of the community.

Joining the Enercoop energy community (COMPTEM) has been really simple and we have already seen the impact in our electricity bill, which has been reduced by approximately 10-15 % each month. Also, we have noticed an increased in the events for the community with some nice informative sessions on energy and other arts and literature events.

As a resident, using the new energy monitoring system has been both interesting and a bit challenging. A small dongle was installed in my meter cabinet, allowing me to follow my energy use on a simple display. Recently, we gained access to an energy planner that shows when local energy is available, even offering a few hours of forecast. The traffic light system—green, yellow, red—helps me decide the best moments to run appliances. Although many of us are still getting used to the technology, it feels rewarding to understand our energy use better and actively contribute to the community effort.

Joining an energy community in Primiero was a step that changed the way we experience energy. Membership requires a few technical steps, but it allows us to better understand the value of shared production and the meaning of being part of a collective project. The most significant thing is to realize that the community is not just a collection of plants, but a shared journey: you listen to the experiences of others, learn to manage your consumption in a more conscious way, and contribute to a more supportive energy model. Participating means feeling part of something that grows over time, with the aim of bringing benefits to everyone, not just those who produce energy. It is a cultural change even before it is a technical one.