Business · Energy & Commodities · 1 day ago
Hot Swiss summer brings higher electricity use and bills for some households
Switzerland had its hottest summer since records began in 1864.
Some people bought air conditioners to cope with the heat, and some were surprised by the cost of running them.
One Zurich resident said his electricity use doubled from June to August, adding about 80 francs to his bill.
Zurich’s utility said some customers ran air conditioners for as long as 10 hours a day, though reports of unusually high bills were rare among the city’s more than 200,000 households.
Zurich used about 4.5% more electricity over the three summer months than a year earlier, while Switzerland’s national total rose about 4.3%.
The figures include businesses, and officials cannot say how much of the increase came from air conditioning.
More complete figures for some months and for Bern are expected later; no nationwide estimate of household air-conditioning use is available.
Switzerland’s electricity use rose during the hot summer of 2026, but the share caused by air conditioning is unknown.
National electricity consumption from June to August was about 4.3 percent higher than in the same period a year earlier.
Zurich used about 4.5 percent more electricity over those months, while Basel reported an increase of nearly 5 percent.
Some Zurich residents who bought air conditioners faced higher bills, and the city utility said some customers ran them for up to 10 hours a day.
Bern’s electricity use fell slightly over the summer.
- Who
- Swiss electricity consumers, including some residents who used air conditioners.
- What
- Electricity use increased nationally and in Zurich and Basel during the summer; some customers also received higher bills.
- When
- June to August 2026.
- Where
- Switzerland, with figures reported for Zurich, Basel and Bern.
- Why
- The sources name hot weather, air conditioners and fans as possible influences, but do not establish how much each contributed.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Several customers then confirmed that they had run the air conditioner for up to 10 hours a day over several weeks, which shows up in a higher electricity bill.
Claudio bought a mobile air conditioner as the first heatwave approached.
Galaxus sold more air conditioners than in any previous month, 38 percent more than in its previous record month, June 2025.
Switzerland’s electricity consumption was about 4.3 percent higher than in the same period a year earlier.
Zurich residents received electricity bills for the summer, including Claudio, whose bill was 168.25 francs.
- National electricity use
- About 4.3 percent higher from June to August than a year earlier
- Zurich electricity use
- About 651 million kilowatt-hours from June to August, up 4.5 percent
- Basel electricity use
- Nearly 5 percent higher over the three summer months than a year earlier
- Claudio’s summer use
- 643 kilowatt-hours from June 1 to August 31, double his usual daily consumption
- Claudio’s bill
- 168.25 francs; he estimated it would have been about 80 francs lower without the air conditioner
Sources
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