Measures
In order to prevent a severe shortage or to be able to cope with one without major damage to the economy and society, the Energy Division (in some cases the Industry and ICT divisions as well) devises measures for electricity, natural gas, oil and wood.
Measures concerning electricity
In the event of an electricity shortage, the first step is to ask people to voluntarily reduce their electricity consumption – at home, at work and in their leisure time. This is to prevent the need for further measures which would have a far greater impact on the economy and the public, or to delay them for as long as possible.
How to save electricity
- Use the stairs instead of the escalator or lift.
Lifts require a lot of energy. By using the stairs, you not only keep fit but also save electricity. - Unplug electrical appliances when not in use.
Avoid using the energy-inefficient stand-by mode. Instead, unplug electrical appliances when not in use (to make things easier, use a multi-plug socket so that you need only unplug one device). This also applies to charging devices for mobile phones, laptops and electrical toothbrushes. - Heat rooms in which you spend the day to a maximum of 20°C (in winter).
By reducing room temperature by one degree, you save around 6% on heating energy. Regulate room temperature by using the radiator valve or a thermostat, not by opening windows. - Do not cool rooms in which you spend the day to under 28°C (in summer).
Cooling a room by one degree requires 3% more energy. To attain a comfortable room temperature, create shade and cool down rooms at night. - Avoid using mobile heaters (in winter) and air conditioners (in summer).
Mobile heaters, radiators and air conditioners are some of the most energy-inefficient appliances in the home and office. Use them only in an emergency and for a short period. - Give rooms a short but vigorous airing by opening as many windows as possible.
For a well-balanced indoor climate and to prevent mildew, rooms require fresh air. The most effective way to do this is by giving rooms a short but vigorous airing. Avoid opening bottom-hung windows. If you sleep with the window open, turn off the heating, otherwise you will be heating the night air. - Avoid unnecessary lighting.
Empty rooms do not require lighting. Switch on the light only if you are using a room. Avoid using decorative lights and unnecessary outdoor lighting.
At home
- Use as little hot water as possible.
Take short showers instead of baths. Wash your hands in cold water. Do not rinse dishes under warm running water. Use the dishwasher and its eco-friendly washing programme. - Use less energy to wash clothes.
Use low temperatures and eco-friendly programmes when using the washing machine. Apply the principle: as hot as necessary and as cold as possible. Wash clothes less frequently – hang your jumper out in the fresh air overnight instead. - Avoid using tumblers.
Air-dry your clothes. If you must use a tumbler, choose the ‹iron dry› programme instead of the ‹extra dry› programme. Before drying make sure your washing has been well spun. - Iron as little as possible or avoid it altogether.
- Increase your fridge and freezer temperature: 7°C and -18°C.
You can save energy by increasing your fridge and freezer temperatures. Raise the inside temperature of your fridge to 7°C. This has the same cooling effect but uses around 15% less energy. A freezer temperature of -18°C is sufficient to freeze and preserve food. - Save energy when cooking.
Avoid meals that require long cooking times. If you can, use one hob only for cooking. Always use a lid on the pan. Switch off the oven – and if possible the hob too – earlier than necessary and use the residual heat. - Avoid using gaming consoles and gaming computers, and avoid streaming videos.
- Avoid using electric personal care appliances and spa treatments such as solariums, saunas, whirlpools, steam baths, infrared cabins and massage chairs.
Share these energy-saving ideas with your friends and family. Saving energy together has the greatest impact!
At work
- Avoid unnecessary lighting.
Check offices before going home in the evening and before weekends. Switch off the lights throughout the building. Avoid using neon signs and shop window lighting. - Avoid unnecessary heating and cooling.
- Outside working hours, reduce the room temperature in offices and workshops to 16°C.
- Check the premises before going home and close doors and windows.
- Switch off the air conditioning if possible.
Share these energy-saving ideas with your work colleagues. Saving energy together has the greatest impact!
At school
- Avoid unnecessary lighting.
After lessons switch off the classroom lights and any lighting in the school building. Avoid unnecessary outdoor lighting. - Reduce heating to a minimum in empty rooms.
Meeting rooms, sports halls and auditoriums do not need heating permanently. Similarly, the heating can be turned off throughout the school building during the school holidays.
Share these energy-saving ideas at school. Discuss them with your pupils. Saving energy together has the greatest impact!
- Use the stairs instead of the escalator or lift.
The Confederation may restrict or prohibit the use of electrical energy for installations, devices, services or activities. The restrictions on use and bans are introduced in escalation steps according to the situation, starting with restrictions on comfort such as a ban on lighting buildings through to more drastic measures such as the closure of businesses.
The escalation levels have been drawn up in cooperation with the business community and the cantons in order to minimise economic damage and distortions of competition. The restrictions and bans apply in both the public and private sphere and are designed in such a way that essential goods and services are not significantly affected.
In the event of a power shortage, the catalogue of measures is finalised in response to the emergency at hand, according to the current supply situation. The Federal Council decides which individual restrictions and bans are to be imposed, taking into account not only the savings potential and feasibility of the measures, but also their impact on the economy and society. The cantons are responsible for ensuring compliance with the restrictions and bans imposed.
If the restrictions and bans on the use of electricity do not result in sufficient savings, standard quotas may be imposed, and if the situation is particularly urgent, immediate quotas may be applied to large consumers with an annual consumption of at least 100MWh. This measure affects 34,000 large consumers, who together account for about half of Switzerland's electricity consumption. Each of these large consumers is required to save a defined amount of electricity or to use only a set amount of power.
In addition to the great savings potential, the advantage of focusing on large consumers is that the measures can be implemented in a binding manner and their effect can be rapidly measured. Large consumers usually have an electricity meter that measures consumption over time and automatically transmits the figures to the distribution network operator. End consumers with lower annual consumption usually do not have this measurement method and are therefore unable to calculate or measure any savings made.
The Federal Council may impose quotas in combination with general restrictions and bans on use in order to minimise distortions of competition.
Quotas are an essential measure to prevent cyclical grid shutdowns, which would have much more serious consequences for the economy and the public.
Standard quotas run for one month. The distribution network operator (DNO) responsible calculates the quota for each individual large consumer for each quota period. The DNO informs its large consumers of the amounts allocated for each consumption site. Large consumers can apply the allocated quota according to their needs throughout the month. Large consumers can freely trade their standard quotas or parts thereof with other large consumers until the end of the respective quota period via dedicated platforms or quota brokers. The parties are required to report any quota trading to a coordinating office at the Association of Swiss Electrictity Companies (ASEC) to ensure that the quotas are observed. Quota trading may not undermine the proper implementation or effectiveness of the quota system or of other power management measures.
A more immediate measure is immediate quotas, which apply for just one day. They can be imposed on large consumers much more rapidly – within just a few days. Large consumers calculate their daily quota themselves. This type of quota cannot be traded.
Companies and local authorities that have several large consumption sites in different distribution networks in Switzerland (multi-site consumers across distribution networks) can cumulate their quotas – both standard and immediate – and manage them themselves. To do this, they must first be registered with ASEC. The registration platform can be found here:
Cyclical grid shutdowns are the last management measure that can be applied. They are designed to prevent a full-scale grid collapse and thus a blackout. Individual parts of the electricity grid are switched off on an alternating basis.
End consumers providing vital services such as energy and water supply, authorities and rescue and security organisations including their operations and emergency call centres, and primary health care services may be exempt from grid shutdowns where this is technically possible. However, this is only rarely the case. Grid shutdowns have a serious impact on the economy and the public and would result in severe restrictions. For this reason, every effort is made to prevent them and this measure is only applied as a last resort, when all other options have been exhausted.
Various scenarios have been drawn up that can be activated should the Federal Council order a grid shutdown as a measure of last resort. At the request of the private sector, one such scenario involves a four-hour daily time span in which the whole of Switzerland is supplied with electricity at the same time.
Measures concerning natural gas
The public and businesses can be called on to reduce their gas consumption, whether at home or at work, for instance by lowering the heating temperature, using less hot water, and by cooking and baking in a way that saves energy. The aim is to prevent Switzerland from experiencing severe shortages from the outset.
Some Swiss businesses have dual-fuel installations, which can be operated with both natural gas and oil. In a shortage situation, these systems can be switched to operating on oil. Businesses can be ordered by the government to make this switch.
Daily gas consumption can be reduced by imposing restrictions and bans on use. Essential goods and services would not be significantly affected. The main measure is to turn down heating and reduce water temperature, especially in workrooms, but also in living space.
In a quota system, affected consumers are only permitted to use a limited quantity (quota) of gas for a certain period of time. All consumers not in the ‹protected consumers› category are affected by quotas. Protected consumers include private households and key social services such as hospitals and emergency services.
KIO Gas is subordinate to the federal government National Economic Supply organisation, acting on the latter's instructions if a gas shortage occurs.
KIO Gas: On behalf of the federal government (website available in German, French and Italian)
Measures concerning oil
In Switzerland compulsory stocks have to be held of a number of essential goods. Some companies are required to hold and maintain stocks of these goods as a contribution to security of supply. The Confederation oversees these compulsory stocks and provides financial support.
Compulsory stocks can be released within a few working days, ensuring goods remain available even when supply is disrupted.
As a member of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Switzerland is obliged to support emergency energy measures decided on by the IEA, even when our country has a full supply of energy.
For example, Switzerland participated in the IEA's collective release of compulsory stocks of petroleum products in March 2022 following the attack on Ukraine.
If necessary, measures to reduce consumption can be taken individually or in combination.
Appeals can be made to the public to encourage energy savings on a voluntary basis, for example driving more efficiently, forming car pools, using public transport instead of private vehicles and reducing travel for leisure purposes.
Further measures which contribute to a reduction in fuel consumption can be decreed by the Federal Council, such as speed restrictions.
Aviation fuel quotas
If the aviation fuel market can no longer be fully supplied because of long-lasting or very extensive compulsory stock releases, or if compulsory stocks have already been greatly reduced, the Ordinance on the Quota System for Aviation Fuel can be enacted to limit sales. This indirectly reduces the consumption of aviation fuel at Swiss airports.
There are no quotas for search-and-rescue and fire-fighting flights.
Petrol and diesel rationing
Fuel rationing may be introduced to limit consumption in the event of a considerable and prolonged fuel shortage in the country, thus ensuring traffic can continue to flow and the economy can continue to function.
Certain consumer groups such as emergency service vehicles are exempt from fuel rationing.
Heating oil
In the event of a serious and prolonged supply crisis, the amount of heating oil released to consumers is managed in order to reduce consumption.
The amount of heating oil required is calculated based on the individual average annual consumption of heating oil over the previous two years. These figures are provided by operators of heating systems or other heating oil consumers.