Understanding electricity billing rates

A tariff consists of several elements:

  1. Energy tariff
  2. Transport tariff
  3. Power
  4. Metering tariff
  5. Subscription if applicable
  6. Taxes

This document details each of these elements.

Energy tariff

This is the price of electricity as a commodity. Your supply contract may also include peak and off-peak hours, depending on your supplier. During peak hours, demand is high and electricity is more expensive. Conversely, off-peak hours correspond to periods of low demand, where the kWh is cheaper.

Transport tariff

Like any commodity, electricity must be transported to your Site. Grid operators bill for this service.

The transport tariff includes several components:

  1. The local grid, which is entirely managed by your DSO.
  2. The national grid, managed by Swissgrid.
  3. Federal transport fees:
    1. Transport solidarity costs: introduced in 2026, this element amounts to 0.5 ct./kWh. It is used to finance work on local grids and to provide temporary support to certain industries.
    2. Winter electricity reserve: this tax, also subject to VAT, is 0.41 ct./kWh. This funding comes from the Ordinance of January 25, 2023, on the establishment of a winter electricity reserve.
    3. System services: Services billed by Swissgrid to maintain the balance and stability of the electricity grid. This service is 0.27 ct./kWh in 2026.

All these fees are levies collected by Swissgrid, which is responsible for them. They are all subject to VAT.

Power

Depending on your tariff product, your Site may also be billed on the maximum Power demand of your installation. In the event of high demand, your DSO must adapt its infrastructure to provide the necessary power.

For some DSOs, every time the maximum power increases, it becomes the reference for the entire year. The DSO then re-bills previous periods with the new value.

For other DSOs, only the monthly power peak is billed.

Metering tariff

This tariff, introduced in 2026, covers the costs related to your electricity meter: its installation and its reading. In the case of an RCP, there is in principle only one DSO meter billed: the Input meter.

Prices vary depending on the voltage, the type of meter, and your DSO:

  • Low voltage (LV) meter <80 amps
  • Low voltage (LV) meter >80 amps
  • Medium voltage (MV) meter
  • High voltage (HV) meter
  • Virtual meter (in the context of an RCPv or a LEC, for example)

Subscription

Some grid operators bill a fixed subscription fee, independent of your consumption, covering the administrative costs associated with your connection. Its Amount varies depending on your tariff product.

Taxes

  • There is a federal tax applied by all suppliers with a value of 2.3 ct./kWh. This tax is subject to VAT.
  • Cantons may issue a cantonal tax. This is an Other non-VAT taxes.
  • Municipalities may also add a specific tax, which is also an Other non-VAT taxes.
  • Cantonal and municipal fees may also be added. These are subject to VAT.

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