Business · Energy & Commodities · 5 hrs ago
Swiss audit office sees CHF220m savings in winter power reserve
Switzerland’s Federal Audit Office says the planned winter power reserve could save CHF220 million if it were designed differently.
The government plans to spend CHF2.18 billion on four reserve power plants from 2030 to help prevent electricity shortages.
The audit office says using backup generators could save CHF120 million over 15 years, but the Federal Office of Energy says they cannot replace reserve plants and can only supplement them.
The audit office also says the four plants would provide 83 megawatts more than the recommended minimum reserve for 2030.
The Electricity Commission says planning for risks is important and demand for reserve power could later rise.
The audit office says more renewable energy could reduce the need for reserves in late winter or make them unnecessary.
Parliament’s energy committee is waiting for a new assessment of electricity security, expected next spring, before considering the proposal.
Switzerland’s Federal Audit Office says the planned winter electricity reserve has CHF220 million in potential savings.
It says emergency generators are not being counted as a reserve option and that the planned reserve is oversized.
The office estimates that using emergency generators instead of reserve power plants could save CHF120 million over 15 years.
The Federal Office of Energy says emergency generators cannot replace reserve power plants because their use is limited.
The four planned reserve power plants are intended to provide for possible electricity shortages from 2030.
- Who
- Switzerland’s Federal Audit Office identified potential savings; the Federal Office of Energy disputes part of its assessment.
- What
- The audit office says the planned winter electricity reserve has CHF220 million in potential savings.
- When
- The report was published on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.
- Where
- Switzerland.
- Why
- The audit office says emergency generators are not adequately considered and the planned reserve exceeds the recommended minimum for 2030.
Federal Audit Office
Federal Office of Energy and Elcom
Use of emergency generators
Federal Audit Office
The audit office says emergency generators could help prevent a shortage and could save CHF120 million over 15 years if counted instead of reserve power plants.
Federal Office of Energy and Elcom
The Federal Office of Energy says their limited operating options mean they cannot replace reserve power plants, only complement them.
Size of reserve
Federal Audit Office
The audit office says the four planned plants exceed the recommended minimum reserve for 2030 by 83 megawatts and reserves should be kept to the necessary minimum.
Federal Office of Energy and Elcom
Elcom points to risk preparedness and says reserve needs could be higher later.
The Federal Audit Office’s report on the electricity reserve was published.
The federal government plans to provide CHF2.18 billion for four reserve power plants.
The parliamentary committee says Elcom’s new assessment of electricity supply security is planned.
- Potential savings
- CHF220 million
- Savings from emergency generators
- CHF120 million over 15 years
- Planned reserve power plants
- Four
- Planned funding
- CHF2.18 billion
- Excess over recommended minimum
- 83 megawatts for 2030