7. Tasks assigned to Swissgrid by the federal government (intermediary transactions)
In accordance with the accounting regulations, the tasks assigned to Swissgrid by the federal government are treated as intermediary transactions, which is why only the value of the services provided by Swissgrid itself and the associated net turnover are reported in the income statement and in Notes 4 and 6. The following sections show the net turnover and procurement costs for these intermediary transactions.
Power reserve
Net turnover from the power reserve consists of the following items:
| In millions of CHF | 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tariff income for power reserve intermediary transactions | 119.7 | 627.7 | ||
| Income from auctions for the reduction of chargeable grid costs | 16.9 | – | ||
| Net turnover from power reserve intermediary transactions | 136.6 | 627.7 | ||
| Tariff income for power reserve services provided by Swissgrid itself | 2.2 | 17.5 | ||
| Net turnover from power reserve services provided by Swissgrid itself | 2.2 | 17.5 | ||
| 138.8 | 645.2 |
The power reserve tariff decreased from 1.20 to 0.23 cents/kWh compared to the previous year. For this reason, income from the power reserve tariff declined as expected.
Procurement costs for the power reserve consist of the following items:
| In millions of CHF | 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provision costs for the hydropower reserve | 16.1 | 54.4 | ||
| thereof intermediary business | 16.1 | 54.4 | ||
| Provision costs for reserve power plants | 183.8 | 128.4 | ||
| thereof intermediary business | 183.8 | 128.4 | ||
| Provision costs for emergency power groups | 5.2 | 3.7 | ||
| thereof intermediary business | 5.2 | 3.7 | ||
| 205.1 | 186.5 |
The increase in costs for the provision of reserve power plants is attributable to the decision by the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) to provide a test bench for gas turbines as a reserve power plant from February 2027. This test bench will form part of a transitional solution to safeguard Switzerland’s security of supply in the coming winters until the future reserve power plants become operational. The contracts for the existing reserve power plants expire in spring 2026. The lower provision costs for the hydropower reserve are attributable to a reduction in procurement volumes compared to the previous year and to lower procurement prices.
Solidarised costs
Following the entry into force of the revised Electricity Supply Act on 1 January 2025, costs to be borne by Swissgrid for grid enhancements in the low-voltage grid and connection lines as well as temporary state aid for Swiss iron, steel and aluminium producers, were incurred for the first time in the reporting year. Grid enhancement costs for the medium-voltage grid and above borne by Swissgrid, which were previously allocated to the general ancillary services/imbalance energy segment, are included in the solidarised costs segment from this financial year onwards. Tariff income to cover these solidarised costs will be collected for the first time in the 2026 financial year.
Procurement costs for the solidarised costs consist of the following items:
| In millions of CHF | 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grid enhancement | 93.1 | n/a | ||
| of which grid enhancement costs in the medium-voltage grid and above | 43.2 | n/a | ||
| of which grid enhancement costs in the low-voltage grid | 49.6 | n/a | ||
| of which costs for the necessary reinforcements of connection lines | 0.3 | n/a | ||
| Temporary state aid for iron, steel and aluminium producers | 10.1 | n/a | ||
| 103.2 | n/a |
These procurement costs relate exclusively to intermediary transactions. The costs for grid enhancements in the medium-voltage grid and above have increased due to the greater number of grid enhancement requests approved by ElCom.