Executive Summary

On 27 May 2026, the Federal Council approved an amendment to the Ordinance on the Promotion of Renewable Energy (EnFV). The reason is a new calculation model for balancing energy prices that Swissgrid has been using since 1 January 2026. The management fee – compensation for approximately 1,000 electricity producers with feed-in tariffs (KEV) – must be redesigned as a result. The revised ordinance enters into force on 1 July 2026.

Persons

  • Federal Council (collectively; decision-making body)

Topics

  • Renewable Energy
  • Electricity Market Regulation
  • Swissgrid System Change

Clarus Lead

The adjustment addresses a practical problem: since Swissgrid switched its pricing system in early 2026, the variable component of the management fee could no longer be paid out. The revision restores the promotion logic and fulfills a core demand from the consultation process, which called for the variable component for all renewable energy technologies – not just photovoltaics. This makes direct marketing of electricity from renewable sources profitable again for small and medium-sized plant operators.

Detailed Summary

The management fee compensates electricity producers for additional costs incurred through direct sales on the market. It consists of two components: a fixed component (independent of market prices) and a variable component (dependent on balancing energy costs). Both are paid from the network surcharge fund, which is financed by electricity customers.

The new calculation method applies uniformly to all renewable technologies: photovoltaics, biomass, wind energy, and hydropower. Pronovo, the enforcement body for this regulation, will continue to calculate, publish, and pay out the fee as before. The technology-specific variable component for the first half of 2026 will be paid out by Pronovo in the third quarter of 2026.

Key Statements

  • Federal Council approves ordinance amendment (EnFV) to adjust management fee
  • New Swissgrid calculation method requires redesign of variable fee component
  • Approximately 1,000 KEV plant operators benefit from resumption of variable compensation payments
  • Uniform regulation for all renewable energy technologies from 1 July 2026

Critical Questions

  1. Evidence/Data Quality: How was the level of the new variable fee component calibrated – is it based on historical average values or current market prices?

  2. Conflicts of Interest: Which stakeholders (Swissgrid, Pronovo, electricity customers, plant operators) were heard in the consultation process, and were there divergent positions on the design?

  3. Causality: To what extent is the delay in payment (compensation only in Q3 2026 for H1 2026) a technical necessity or an administrative delay risk?

  4. Feasibility: How is it ensured that Pronovo implements the new calculation method without errors, and what control mechanisms exist?

  5. Side Effects: Could the uniform regulation for all technologies create unintended incentives (e.g., shift between photovoltaics and other sources)?

Source Directory

Primary Source: [State Visit Poland – Federal Council Adjusts Management Fee] – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/f8oQO4V_ZNaFp80oaZ9Ye

Supplementary Resources:

  • Pronovo AG: Reports and Publications – https://pronovo.ch/de/services/berichte/

Verification Status: ✓ 27.05.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: 27.05.2026