There is a good chance that Switzerland will survive the winter without experiencing a power shortage. The relatively high temperatures at the start of the season are the main reason for this, the director of the Federal Electricity Commission (Elcom) said on Thursday.
As a result of this mild weather, gas consumption in Europe has so far been significantly lower than in other years, with the corollary of better filled tanks, said Urs Meister on German-speaking public radio SRF.
More good news: there is once more more nuclear electricity from France. With the end of maintenance work at many power plants and the resumption of their activity, there is a good chance that in the weeks to come, more French nuclear power will be able to be transported to Switzerland.
The ‘significantly above average’ filling level of the Swiss reservoirs is another positive point, according to Meister. It amounts to regarding 75 percent. The norm at this time of the year is 55-60%.
Elcom is an independent federal electricity regulator. It monitors compliance with the Electricity Supply Act and the Energy Act and monitors electricity prices.
Situation still ‘tense’ for SFOE
Referring to its energy dashboard in Switzerland posted online in mid-December, the Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) estimates that the situation remains “tense” in terms of electricity. But the supply is guaranteed. SFOE makes an identical estimate for gas.
The SFOE energy consumption portal has five levels. Level 1 is ‘normal’, level 2 means ‘tense’, up to level 5 which would indicate ‘insufficient supply’.
The Federal Council is preparing
Whatever the scenario, the Federal Council is preparing for a possible electricity shortage. In November, he put a plan of measures at several levels out for consultation. This plan ranges from simple savings calls to network outages. This would then be a last resort in case savings, restrictions and quotas were not enough.
The Federal Council intends to adopt the ordinances, in draft form, in the coming weeks, the Federal Department of Economics, Education and Research (DEFR) told Keystone-ATS. It will only put them into effect in the event of a threat of shortage and by adapting them to actual needs.
/ATS
