Together with the 2026 tariffs, Swissgrid has defined a new mechanism for calculating the balancing energy price. Its aim is to help reduce the need for control energy and strengthen the balance of the Swiss control area.
Over the past few months, Swissgrid has analysed various pricing mechanisms and compared them at the European level. In close coordination with the industry, Swissgrid will introduce the so-called single-price mechanism for balancing energy as of 1 January 2026. This mechanism creates financial incentives for all balance groups and sub-balance groups to contribute to the overall balance of the Swiss control area. Up to now, the main incentive for balance groups was to balance their own portfolio.
Details of the new pricing mechanism can be found on the slides of the 2025 BGM Partner Meeting and in Chapter 7 of Appendix 1 «General Balance Group Provisions», which comes into force on 1 January 2026.