Swiss electricity production is dominated by hydro power and nuclear energy. 56% of the electricity consumed in Switzerland comes from hydropower plants. Half of this is produced in storage power plants. Nuclear power accounts for 39%, new renewable energies contribute 2% and the rest (e.g. fossil fuel power plants) make up 3%.

The Swiss power plant park as a whole is characterised by a high level of capacity for peak load. This capacity covers the higher day-time consumption, in other words the peaks in demand in the morning, at midday and in the evening, and evens out short-term imbalances between supply and demand. Peak load energy places higher technical demands on production, as either storage or flexible power plant deployment are required.

In 2009 Switzerland consumed over 61,800 gigawatt hours of electricity and produced a net total of 63,900 gigawatt hours. This surplus is not distributed evenly over the course of the year, however. In the winter period, electricity production is less than demand. Imports from abroad cover this supply shortfall.

Switzerland is a transit country for electricity: 54,159 GWh were exported, 52,002 GWh were imported. Trade is one of the main reasons Switzerland can offer competitive electricity prices compared with Europe.

Electrical energy is an important basis for a functioning modern economy. Electricity is not only an input commodity for industry, agriculture and services. With the growing demand for space, greater mobility and the increasing use of electrical goods in the home, electrical energy also impacts on the welfare of consumers.