Reserves
To avoid an electricity shortage in winter, the Federal Council decided to construct a reserve power plant in Birr, canton of Aargau, provide additional reserve power plants in Cornaux and Monthey, and set up emergency generators for complementary reserves. A hydropower reserve was also created. These measures have been in place since winter 2022–23 and the reserves have not been drawn upon so far. The use of and relationship between the reserves are governed by a directive issued by ElCom. This takes account of environmental law, economic and technical/feasibility factors.