Electricity prices and tariffs
ElCom monitors tariffs in the electricity sector. These include tariffs for network usage and metering, as well as energy tariffs for consumers under basic supply. These are known as monopoly tariffs, as consumers cannot freely choose their supplier. Network operators must calculate these tariffs based on their production and procurement costs whereby a profit margin is also included in the requirements for return on capital.
Network operators must submit the tariffs and relevant cost basis to ElCom on an annual basis. ElCom has wide-ranging powers in its supervisory role: it can prohibit unjustified electricity price increases or reduce excessively high prices retrospectively. ElCom acts either at its own initiative – in an ex-officio capacity – or based on reports or complaints submitted to it and initiates proceedings under administrative law which it rules on by issuing decisions.
If you believe prices are unreasonably high, please report this to us using the contact form.
Do you have any more questions on this? You will find answers here (in german only)
Overview of electricity prices (in german only)
Basic supply and free market
All individuals, households and SMEs with annual electricity consumption of below 100 megawatt hours (MWh/year) fall under basic supply. These small-scale consumers are currently unable to select their electricity provider. They are served by the basic supply provider in their supply area.
Tariff and product structures
The electricity price is made up of five components:
Distributed generation and self-consumption
In addition to large-scale, central power plants, small, local ones are playing an increasingly important role too. These include photovoltaic systems, small-scale hydropower plants and wind turbines. Electricity generated by photovoltaic systems in particular is often used fully or partially by producers for their own purposes – this means the power is used at or close to the place of production. Consumers may be individual households or a community for self-consumption. ElCom rules on any legal disputes concerning distributed generation and self-consumption.
Sunshine Regulation
Electricity is something we now take for granted. We press a switch and the lights come on. Few of us give a second thought to the complex infrastructure that makes this possible – the network of cables, transformer stations and local network operators working to keep power flowing. This has been changing in recent years. Rising electricity prices, concerns about security of supply and the renewable energy transition have brought the sector into sharper focus. Consumers are increasingly aware of tariffs, costs and service quality. ElCom's electricity price website already helps improve transparency, offering a comparison tool that shows grid and electricity tariffs for end users across Switzerland. What is less well known, however, is ElCom’s Sunshine Regulation.
ElCom electronic data delivery system (EDES)
Network operators must submit their tariffs for the following year, their cost calculations, the switching rate and the quality of supply figures by the end of August each year. The electronic data delivery system EDES is provided for this purpose. It can be accessed via eGovernment portal.
Tariff data and visualisations
ElCom’s electricity price website allows comparison of tariffs from Swiss network operators and electricity providers. It provides detailed price comparisons of household and business tariffs across Swiss communes.