Private consumption community (ZEV) for solar energy
Using a building’s own photovoltaic system requires a private consumption community, which is formed by the parties to the rental agreement for the property and is defined in the Energiegesetz (Swiss Energy Act, EnA).
Electricity consumption is still metered individually, as previously; however, the community has only one metering point to the grid operator.
Advantages for tenants
Each tenant has complete cost transparency through the annual comparison of electricity prices, with the maximum permitted cost being only as high as the standard energy of the local distribution net operators, and in most cases lower.
Electricity supply is guaranteed at all times and consists of locally produced renewable energy.
Advantages for owners/landlords
Property owners benefit from the higher degree of sustainability of the property and hence from the higher value and greater attractiveness of the property.
Owners also benefit financially – firstly from lower charges for using the local distribution grid operator’s grid, and secondly because they can sell the electricity at fair prices and also feed excess electricity back into the grid. Higher private consumption by the ZEV increases the rate of return.
Advantages for the environment
Last but not least, our environment benefits from more renewable energy – which is also produced where it is consumed.
Information on ZEVs
Landlords assume responsibility for the installation of a photovoltaic system including all maintenance and repair costs. They are responsible for the electricity supply to all participating tenants (the ZEV).
As the party to the contract with the local distribution grid operator, they inform the latter of the connected tenants and any changes of use, and represent the community to the grid operator.
Landlords are responsible for the purchase of electricity from the grid (including the necessary certificates). They inform their tenants about electricity prices annually and draw up a comparison with the prices of the local distribution grid operator. Landlords can also offer additional electrical power quality in addition to the standard quality (of the local distribution grid operator). In that case, each tenant selects the electrical power quality that best suits them.
The individual electricity consumption of each tenant is measured with METAS-compliant smart meters and recorded according to the ratio of solar and grid electricity, including a breakdown of the grid electricity into high and low tariffs.
The ratio of solar electricity is split between the individual tenants in accordance with the meter readings. The individual electricity consumption of the connected tenants is invoiced per quarter. Landlords are responsible for drawing up the corresponding invoices.
The metering data is stored in Switzerland, and landlords guarantee that the metering data collected is only used for invoicing purposes.
Tenants can view their data at any time via a web interface.
Tenants will automatically cease to be a participant in the community when their lease ends.
If the lease is ongoing, tenants can only end their participation if the landlord has breached a duty to supply adequate electricity or provisions on passing on electricity costs. In such a case, affected tenants can assert their rights pursuant to the rules of the law on defects, and, if necessary, cover their basic supply via the grid operator and end their participation in the community. They must give three months’ written notice of this to the landlord.
Frequently asked questions from tenants
Invoicing for electricity consumption normally occurs on a quarterly basis. Please contact your ZEV service provider for information on the precise invoicing dates.
As a rule, you will be sent the summary of your actual consumption when you are sent your bill by the ZEV service provider. If that is not the case, please contact the company responsible for you directly.
As soon as the photovoltaic system is no longer producing sufficient electricity, the residual electricity is purchased from the local power supplier or on the open electricity market, depending on the agreement at your particular property.
The supplied electricity must not be more expensive, and the supplied quality cannot be worse, than the standard product from the local power supplier.
A photovoltaic system does not produce any electricity at night, and only a small amount of electricity in the early morning and evening hours and if the weather is cloudy or rainy. For that reason, a photovoltaic system can normally only cover less than half of a property’s power consumption. The power required over and above that must be purchased.
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