Setting up an RCP

Definition and General Operation

Since 2018, with the entry into force of the revision of the Energy Act (LEne), it has been possible to establish self-consumption user groups (RCP) in Switzerland. An RCP allows multiple end electricity consumers to be consolidated into a single consumer and customer in the eyes of the electricity distribution system operator (DSO), with the goal of consuming jointly produced photovoltaic electricity, for example, generated on the roof of their building.

An RCP is traditionally constituted within a single building, with a single DSO meter installed at the building's electrical entry point. The owner or the condominium association (PPE) then becomes the electricity provider for the residents, who waive their basic supply from the DSO. Designated as the person responsible for the RCP, the owner then mandates a company, such as Climkit, for metering management and invoicing within the RCP.

Since January 1, 2025, it has been possible to establish an RCP involving neighboring buildings by using the distribution network to exchange the solar electricity produced. In this case, the DSO creates a virtual meter which results from the sum of the DSO meters installed in each building, thus allowing a single invoice to be issued. This is referred to as a virtual RCP. Apart from these differences in general metering, the rules for establishment and operation are the same, whether an RCP consists of one or several buildings.

The RCP is considered a single customer, and its responsible party is the sole point of contact with the DSO, which invoices the electricity drawn by the RCP and remunerates, at the take-over rate, any surplus solar energy fed back into the grid. If multiple DSO meters are used for metering, the costs for the use and maintenance of these meters are also charged to the RCP.

Conditions for Implementation

To implement an RCP, the following conditions must absolutely be met:

• The total photovoltaic (PV) power must correspond to at least 10% of the grid feed-in power. For example, a building with a 125 A main fuse must be equipped with a PV installation of at least 8.7 kWp, which represents about twenty photovoltaic panels.
• If the RCP is established in an existing building, the written agreement of the residents interested in joining the RCP is required.
• If the RCP is formed between several buildings, these must be connected to the same low-voltage grid coupling point (<1 kVA).

Implementation Steps

1. Initial Verification with the DSO

If multiple buildings are involved, it is necessary to consult the DSO by providing the address of the main building, for instance, the one where a new photovoltaic system is planned for installation. The DSO should be asked to identify neighboring buildings that can participate in the RCP. This request can be made by any interested party. The DSO responds within 14 days with a list of eligible buildings based on the electrical network topology.

2. Application for Establishment and Designation of the Responsible Party

The application for the constitution of the RCP is made by the electrician mandated by the owner during the application for the building connection or the production installation via the dedicated form provided by the DSO and signed by all future members of the RCP.

A responsible party and point of contact for the RCP vis-à-vis the DSO must also be designated. This is generally the owner or the PPE. If the RCP comprises several buildings owned by different parties, these must agree to designate one. This is usually the owner with the main PV installation who seeks, with this extended RCP, to sell their production to the residents of neighboring buildings. It is recommended to establish an agreement between the owners on how the RCP will be operated.

The DSO then has three months to review the application. Residents who do not wish to join the RCP remain customers of the DSO, and the DSO will deduct their consumption from the overall DSO invoice without requiring any wiring modifications. Once this person leaves the building, their apartment can easily be integrated into the RCP.

In an existing building

If the RCP is established in a building with existing tenancies, it is essential to obtain the agreement of each tenant. In the case of a PPE, the agreement of each co-owner is necessary. The letter template below can be used to inform residents and obtain their consent for the creation of an RCP:

• Download the letter template to inform tenants (Word)

In a new building

If the premises are free of any tenancy agreements at the time the RCP is established (for example, upon moving or in the case of a new building), the owner can require new tenants to join the RCP. This obligation can be integrated into the lease agreement or stipulated in a separate electricity supply contract.

3. Metering System Planning

DSO meters can be used for internal RCP metering, even if consumers have waived their individual connection. Due to the high monthly cost of DSO meters (CHF 6 to 10 per month), it is advisable to limit their use as much as possible, especially at the building entry points, and favor the installation of private meters to measure internal consumption (apartments and common areas) as well as the production of the various photovoltaic installations.

Furthermore, private meters offer significant advantages: in case of failure or disputes regarding metering, the owner can directly solicit an independent electrician without depending on the DSO. Moreover, unlike DSO meters which only transmit data once a day, private meters can enable real-time monitoring, essential for adjusting consumption habits and optimizing the use of solar production.

The planning of the metering system is a crucial aspect requiring a careful evaluation of the situation, taking into account the one-time installation costs and the recurring costs that will be borne by the owner and consumers during the operational phase. All these elements must be determined by the owner and their mandated parties, engineers, and electricians, before the start of the installation work.

4. Installation and Commissioning

The installer proceeds with the installation of the photovoltaic panels and modifications to the metering system, including the removal of DSO meters, the installation of new private meters, as well as the potential preparation of locations for the entry and production DSO meters.

Retrieval of DSO Meter Data

To manage the RCP, if multiple DSO meters are retained, Climkit will require their readings in the same way it collects data from private meters. Climkit therefore coordinates with the DSO to organize the daily and digital transfer (via FTP) of DSO meter data in the standardized SDAT-CH (Ebix) format to the Climkit platform. A single fee is charged based on the number of meters for this integration.

5. Administrative Setup

Climkit contacts the owner responsible for the RCP to establish the management contract and settle the administrative arrangements necessary for the RCP’s operation, such as defining billing rates and the list of members. The owner also signs a power of attorney allowing the DSO to send its invoice directly to Climkit.

6. Operational Phase

The RCP then enters the operational phase, and Climkit manages the RCP by generating individual consumer statements based on their consumption recorded from private meters and DSO meters. For each consumer, the share of electricity coming from the photovoltaic installation is distinguished from that coming from the grid.

If the owner has opted for the full operating method, Climkit directly invoices the consumers and manages payments. Thanks to the power of attorney signed with the DSO, Climkit periodically receives and pays the invoice related to the RCP's grid draw. Once a year, a statement is prepared in favor of the site manager responsible for the RCP to allocate the income related to the sale of solar electricity.

If several photovoltaic installations belonging to different owners are part of the RCP, the annual statement clearly details the production of each installation, thus allowing revenue to be distributed among the owners according to their own agreement.