Electricity in Switzerland – Economic circles warn of an impending shortage

by

Economic circles worry about impending shortage

According to Economiesuisse, the electricity market should be opened up and security of supply should be given priority over climate protection.

According to economysuisse, the transition to a zero-emission society in 2050 is one of the main reasons for this risk.

KEYSTONE

A power shortage is a major concern, because the war in Ukraine affects Swiss deliveries. To avoid such a scenario, economic circles are advocating opening the electricity market and prioritizing security of supply over climate protection.

“A power shortage would be a disaster,” Christoph Mäder, president of economysuisse, told reporters in Bern on Wednesday. “It would plunge households into energy poverty and cause massive economic damage,” he added.

The umbrella organization points to the transition to an emission-free society in 2050 as one of the main reasons for this risk. With each decommissioned nuclear power plant, the risk of bottlenecks increases, Christoph Mäder argued as he warned of a possible shortage from 2025.

“A power shortage would be a disaster,” said Christoph Mäder, president of economysuisse.

KEYSTONE

Open the market

To avoid such a scenario, both economysuisse and scienceindustries and Swissmem are looking to review supply methods. First, they want to fully open the market.

Switzerland would thus be more competitive and have access to innovative technologies, estimates Martin Hirzel, president of Swissmem. And that is the precondition for an electricity market agreement with the European Union, he added.

So far, the EU has categorically ruled out such an agreement due to the lack of an institutional framework, but the war in Ukraine could change its position, he said. For example, thanks to its hydraulic energy, Switzerland could contribute to reducing dependence on Russian imports.

There must also be more openness about technologies. Existing nuclear power plants must therefore be able to participate in tenders for electricity in the winter, according to Martin Hirzel.

The climate in the background

The three umbrella organizations also want to review the priorities: we must first focus on the security of the electricity supply. Climate protection comes second. However, this prioritization should only take place when there is a conflict of interest, the three groups specified.

Energy reform in question

Finally, economic circles advocate cost reduction by favoring neutral financing models. Between the lines, they oppose measures included in the Federal Council’s major energy reform currently under discussion in parliament.

These include the extension of the surcharge collected on the network by 2.3 cents per kilowatt hour and the introduction of the surcharge to 0.2 cents per kilowatt hour billed to the consumer, decided to ensure winter production.

Companies should also be encouraged to act for the environment, said Matthias Leuenberger, president of science industries. Anyone who undertakes to reduce their consumption must, for example, be reimbursed the grid surcharge of 2.3 cents per kilowatt hour.

TTY

Leave a Comment