Statement on the Revision of the Federal Electricity Act (ElecA)
(Acceleration of the Conversion and Expansion of the Electricity Grid)
In Swissgrid’s view, the «Grid express» proposal contains important and urgently needed legislative changes to speed up the authorisation processes for the expansion and renovation of the transmission system. This will make it easier for grid expansion to keep pace with the expansion of renewable energies in the future, which will strengthen Switzerland’s security of supply.
Given the current lengthy approval processes, grid expansion is increasingly falling behind schedule compared to the expansion of power plants. The direct consequences of this are economically inefficient grid congestion and limited utility power generation. The resulting costs are borne by the end consumers. Unless further measures are taken, the grid is in danger of becoming a bottleneck in the energy transition.
Under various proposals, the procedures for the planning, construction, expansion, and renewal of large plants for the generation of electricity or heat from renewable energies are to be simplified and thereby accelerated. This will further exacerbate the grid situation unless measures are taken now.
In the next few decades, around a third of the existing transmission system will reach the end of its technical service life. These elements will have to be replaced over the next 30 years. The number of grid projects will therefore multiply in relation to the last 20 years. Approval processes need to be significantly accelerated for these projects to be implemented in a timely manner.
The grid is of central importance for Switzerland’s security of supply and for the success of the energy transition.
In its statement, Swissgrid welcomes the following points in particular:
- Overhead line principle (Art. 15B Draft ElecA), as an excessive proportion of underground cables results in major challenges for the transmission system.
- Replacement of existing lines at the same location without the need for a sectoral plan procedure (Art. 15bbis Draft ElecA), as this will reduce unnecessary bureaucracy.
- Priority of the transmission system over other national interests (Art. 15d Draft ElecA), as this will recognise the importance of the grid.
- Dispensing with the internal federal conciliation procedure (Art. 16g para. 1 Draft ElecA), as this will prevent duplication and unnecessary delays.
- Coordination of grid planning (Art. 9c para. 2 Draft ESA), as jointly coordinated planning will save time and simplify the process.
If the approval processes are speeded up, overhead lines are given priority and lines are replaced efficiently without delay, grid expansion can better keep pace with the expansion of renewable energies in the future, which will in turn have a positive impact on Switzerland’s security of supply.
Swissgrid welcomes and supports this draft law in the interests of grid stability, cost efficiency and, ultimately, a successful energy transition.
