Platforms and bodies
With over 41 cross-border power lines, Switzerland is heavily integrated into the European grid. This means close coordination with neighbouring countries is essential. ElCom supports Swiss participation on the relevant platforms as it believes non-participation would present considerable risks to secure network operation. In specific terms, such risks may include the occurrence of unscheduled and unannounced large electricity flows via the Swiss network at very short notice, causing congestion and outages. Such situations could jeopardise the system security of the entire region surrounding Switzerland.
Transmission network capacity
Large amounts of energy are exchanged across national borders through international electricity trading which divides up the available capacity. If demand exceeds the available capacity, the national grid operator Swissgrid can hold auctions to invite bids for the capacity. As the regulator, EICom monitors these auctions and governs congestion management by Swissgrid and the participating market actors. ElCom also engages in continual dialogue with the regulators of Switzerland’s neighbouring countries to optimise the calculation of the capacity available for import and export to and from Switzerland.
ElCom aims to ensure cross-border transmission network capacity is used as efficiently as possible. It regularly seeks ways to optimise use of this capacity in cooperation with Swissgrid and the regulators of Switzerland’s neighbouring countries. Market coupling with the EU has significantly improved Switzerland’s security of supply. Having access to the European market with competitive energy prices is of great importance to Switzerland.
Control energy and reserve power supply
Reserve power supply balances out fluctuations on the electricity grid – or more specifically fluctuations in electricity network frequency. The use of reserve power supply can involve both power being fed into the grid and withdrawn from it.
International cooperation on the procurement of control energy and reserve power supply improves the situation in terms of market liquidity and opens up new sales opportunities for the participating control energy providers. Switzerland is only permitted to participate on some platforms, such as the Frequency Containment Reserve (FCR) for the procurement of primary balancing capacity. The single market improves procurement efficiency and reduces the risk of bottlenecks in the provision of system services. This increases the security of the entire system.