Statements on consultation drafts
Statement on the establishment of a hydropower reserve
Against the backdrop of the current geopolitical situation, the lack of an electricity agreement with the EU and the slow approval procedures for the construction of production plants and grid infrastructure, the hydropower reserve is a comprehensible, necessary and feasible measure to ensure security of supply. The Federal Council plans to transfer operational management to the national grid company. Swissgrid accepts this additional, responsible task and will work closely with the authorities and the industry in the interests of security of supply.
In the medium and long term, further measures are needed to effectively counteract shortages of electricity. Swissgrid has developed solutions in association with the authorities and the industry. They include building additional domestic production capacity, accelerating procedures for the necessary expansion of production plants and grid infrastructure, and an electricity agreement with the EU.
Swissgrid is addressing the following points in the consultation process:
- The Federal Council plans to introduce the hydropower reserve by ordinance so that it will be available as early as next winter. Swissgrid is asking the legislator to create supplementary statutory bases as quickly as possible.
- The preparation, provision and use of the hydropower reserve will result in costs. According to the draft ordinance, the reserve charges and any remuneration due to the power plant operators for its use will be financed via the Swissgrid tariffs, which will increase accordingly. Swissgrid sees a need to optimise the legal basis for the allowability of costs.
- Swissgrid also believes that it is necessary to optimise the specifications, agreements and processes for the development and operational management of the hydropower reserve and to reduce the financial risks.
- Additional contractual agreements with balance groups and power plant operators are required, for the conclusion of which there is only little time available.
Swissgrid acknowledges the Federal Council’s confidence and will do everything in its power to fulfil this demanding mandate in the interests of security of supply. For the hydropower reserve to succeed, it is essential that all players in the Swiss electricity system continue to work together constructively to carry out this task successfully in the short term.
