Implementation of an RCP

Definition and General Operation

Since 2018, with the implementation of the revision of the Energy Act (LEne), it is possible to create in Switzerland Groupings for Self-Consumption (RCP). An RCP allows multiple end consumers of electricity to be consolidated into a single consumer and customer in the eyes of the Distribution System Operator (DSO), with the aim of consuming the common photovoltaic electricity production, produced for example on the roof of their building.

A traditional RCP is constituted within a single building, with a single DSO meter installed at the electrical entry of the building. The owner or the community of co-owners (PPE) then becomes the electricity supplier for the residents, who waive their basic supply by the DSO. Appointed as the RCP manager, the owner subsequently mandates a company, such as Climkit, for the management of metering and billing within the RCP.

From January 1, 2025, it will be possible to establish an RCP with neighboring buildings using the distribution network to exchange the produced solar electricity. In this case, the DSO creates a virtual meter that results from the sum of the DSO meters installed in each building, thus allowing the establishment of a single bill. This is referred to as a virtual RCP. Aside from these differences in overall metering, the rules for establishment and operation remain the same, whether an RCP consists of one or several buildings.

The RCP is considered a single customer, and its manager is the sole contact with the DSO, which invoices the electricity drawn by the RCP and compensates, at the buyback rate, the surplus solar reinjected. If multiple DSO meters are used for metering, the costs of usage and maintenance of these meters are also billed to the RCP.

Conditions for Implementation

To establish an RCP, the following conditions must be met:

• The total photovoltaic (PV) power must correspond to at least 10% of the introduction power to the grid. For example, a building with 125 A 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, written agreement from the residents interested in joining the RCP is required.
• If the RCP is established between multiple buildings, these must be connected to the same coupling point to the low voltage network (<1 kVA).

Steps for Implementation

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 example, the one on which a new photovoltaic system is planned to be installed. It is advisable to ask the DSO to identify the neighboring buildings that can participate in the RCP. This request can be made by anyone interested. The DSO responds within 14 days with a list of eligible buildings based on the topology of the electrical network.

2. Application for Establishment and Appointment of Manager

The application for the establishment of the RCP is made by the electrician installer mandated by the owner when requesting the connection of the building or production installation through the dedicated form provided by the DSO and signed by all future members of the RCP.

A manager and contact person for the RCP with the DSO must also be designated. This is generally the owner or the PPE. If the RCP consists of several buildings with different owners, they must agree on a designation. This is generally the one with the main PV installation seeking to sell his production to the residents of neighboring buildings through this expanded RCP. It is recommended to establish an agreement between the owners on how the RCP will be operated.

The DSO then has three months to examine 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 DSO's overall bill without the need to modify the wiring. Once this person leaves the building, their apartment can be easily integrated into the RCP.

In an Existing Building

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

• Download the model letter to inform tenants (Word)

In a New Building

If the premises are free of any lease at the time of the establishment of the RCP (for example, during a move or in the case of a new building), the owner can require new tenants to join the RCP. This obligation can be included in the lease agreement or stipulated in a separate electricity supply contract.

3. Planning the Metering System

DSO meters can be used for internal metering of the RCP, even if consumers have waived their individual connections. Due to the high monthly costs of DSO meters (CHF 6 to 10 per month), it is advisable to limit them as much as possible, particularly on the inputs of the buildings, and to prefer the installation of private meters to measure internal consumption (apartments and common areas) as well as the output from the various photovoltaic installations.

Moreover, private meters offer significant advantages: in case of failure or dispute regarding the metering, the owner can directly engage an independent electrician without relying on the DSO. Additionally, unlike DSO meters which transmit data only once a day, private meters can allow for 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 that requires careful evaluation of the situation, considering the one-time installation costs and the ongoing 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 agents, 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, installation of new private meters, and possible preparation of locations for DSO input and production meters.

Recovery of DSO Meter Data

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

5. Administrative Setup

Climkit contacts the responsible owner of the RCP to establish the management contract and settle the necessary administrative details for the operation of the RCP, such as defining billing rates and the list of members. The owner also signs a proxy allowing the DSO to send its bill directly to Climkit.

6. Operational Phase

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

If the owner has opted for the complete operational method, Climkit invoices consumers directly and manages payments. Thanks to the proxy signed with the DSO, Climkit periodically receives and pays the invoice related to the RCP’s electricity draw. Once a year, a statement is issued in favor of the responsible owner of the RCP to allocate revenue from the sale of solar electricity.

In the case where multiple photovoltaic installations owned by different owners are part of the RCP, the annual statement clearly details the production of each installation, thus allowing for the distribution of revenues among the owners according to their own agreement.