An average four-person household will pay an annual cost of CHF 64 for Swissgrid’s services in 2026. But what is this amount actually for? Andreas Schreiber and Zuzana Filková explain why a stable grid shouldn’t be taken for granted in the future, the challenges Swissgrid is facing, and what the tariffs comprise.
Interview
Andreas, Zuzana – what does the «average four-person household» get for the CHF 64 it pays Swissgrid?
Andreas: This amount is a contribution to an extra-stable grid. In Switzerland, we’re used to it: a simple push of a button, and our computer, coffee machine or light comes on. Electricity is reliably available – today and in the future. But that isn’t a matter of course. There’s a strong grid behind this supply of electricity, and an important part of this backbone is provided by Swissgrid. Our ancestors were pioneers when it came to the construction of the grid. They laid the foundations – and now we have a responsibility to operate the infrastructure as efficiently as possible for the Swiss population, to adapt it to new circumstances and to continue developing it.
Zuzana: That involves far more than just pylons, cables and transformers. The grid is a highly complex system that has to be balanced every second of the day. Electricity generation must always correspond precisely to consumption. For example, if an electric car is plugged into a charging station, the electricity must be available immediately – and there must be no surplus once the charging process is complete. This constant fine-tuning is one of our key responsibilities.
The extra-high-voltage grid in Switzerland has already been built. Why does Swissgrid have to continue investing?
Zuzana: Yes, the extra-high-voltage grid is already in place. But it must be constantly maintained. Some parts of the grid are up to 80 years old and need to be replaced. And we have to prepare our grid for the future: the expansion of solar energy is progressing rapidly, and the aim is to continue to strengthen hydropower as well. But even the largest power plant is useless unless it is connected to consumers by a line.
Andreas: On top of that, there aren’t enough connections with Europe. Without an electricity agreement, we have no access to the major European platforms for control energy, for example – which are an important factor for grid stability. That means we need to provide these and similar services ourselves in Switzerland and are shifting our focus to digitalising grid operations. What’s more, more and more unplanned electricity flows are travelling through Switzerland, which is a problem we have to deal with. That makes congestion management more difficult, and we have to intervene in power plant operations much more often by taking redispatching measures.
«But even the largest power plant is useless unless it is connected to consumers by a line.»
Zuzana Filková
In addition to Swissgrid’s services, there is a charge for the power reserve and a new «Surcharge for solidarised costs via the transmission system» – what are consumers paying for?
Andreas: As well as Swissgrid’s services, political decisions also influence consumer’s electricity bills – for example due to the tariffs for the power reserve. The federal government introduced this power reserve as a precautionary measure for the winter of 2022/23 in order to strengthen security of supply. The government instructed Swissgrid to distribute the costs for reserve power plants, hydropower reserves and emergency power groups among all electricity customers.
Zuzana: From next year, we will also have to share additional costs that are not caused by Swissgrid itself. These costs will be used to finance the grid enhancements that are necessary due to the expansion of solar energy, for example – not in Swissgrid’s grid, but in the distribution grids. Parliament is also offering temporary state aid for the steel and aluminium industry, which will be exempt from a proportion of the grid usage tariffs for a certain period.
Swissgrid is modifying the grid usage tariff in 2026 – why is that?
Zuzana: The grid usage tariff is being restructured to meet a new legal requirement. The total costs will remain roughly the same, but incentives have been created to reduce power peaks. In simple terms, the lower the peak load, the less grid expansion is required: the dimensions required for the grid depend on the power.
Andreas: Plus the previous basic tariff will no longer apply. Previously, each connection point on the extra-high-voltage grid paid a fixed rate. This tariff is now being discontinued to prevent transformers – i.e. connection points – from being dismantled for cost reasons. More connection points increase grid stability and help ensure secure grid operation.
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