Energy Alliance: Switzerland at the heart of the EU network (cross-border guide)

Context

In brief

• Alliance of economic actors supports energy agreement with EU
• Switzerland: 41 connection lines, winter dependence on imports
• Without an agreement: risk of higher energy costs for households and businesses

Key Facts

• What: The 'Alliance for the Swiss Electricity Energy Agreement' is born
• When: Recently launched (exact date not specified)
• Where: Bern; European network with 41 international connection lines
• Who: VSE (Michael Frank), Swissgrid (Yves Zumwald), Sulzer (Suzanne Thoma)
• Theme: Supply security, price predictability, network management costs

A united front for energy

The 'Alliance for the Swiss Electricity Energy Agreement' is being established, an organization bringing together economic actors and energy sector players with a clear objective: to support the electricity agreement between Switzerland and the European Union. The alliance aims to inform the population about the contents and benefits of the agreement, promoting its implementation without 'Swiss Finish' – that is, without adding supplementary regulations not required by the agreement itself.

Michael Frank, director of the Association of Swiss Electrical Companies (VSE) and co-president of the Alliance, explains the relevance of the agreement: «Thanks to an electricity energy agreement, Switzerland remains reliably integrated into the European electricity network. This is crucial, especially for winter supply.» A statement that reflects a structural dependence: during the cold months, the country imports a significant share of the electricity it needs.

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Operational details

The agreement as a guarantee of stability

According to the Alliance, the agreement with the EU is essential to guarantee Switzerland a secure, stable and accessible energy supply. The issue is not merely technical: the stability of the network has direct repercussions on the quality of life and economic competitiveness of the country. Suzanne Thoma, CEO of Sulzer, says that "without the electricity agreement, the stabilization of the Swiss electricity grid will cost much more. These additional costs would be passed on to consumers, families and businesses. "

In other words, the cost of non-action would fall directly on the energy bill of every citizen and every company. A risk that the Alliance intends to avoid by coordinating the voices of the economic world and the energy sector.

The benefits of integrated energy transition

The agreement is also a decisive instrument for the national energy transition. The possibility of exchanging electricity across borders, of using it and storing it flexibly, creates room for manoeuvre that would not exist in an isolation scenario. Swiss hydropower plays a particular role in this context: Swiss storage basins, strategically distributed over the territory, can serve to stabilize the continental grid during periods of peak demand.

What would Switzerland risk without the agreement

Without a formalised agreement, the

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Key points

How to proceed: the role of the population

The Swiss Electricity Agreement Alliance intends to coordinate a non-partisan collaboration in anticipation of a possible popular vote on the agreement. This means that in the coming months, the debate on the agreement with the EU will become a topic of national discussion, involving citizens, politicians, and economic stakeholders. The alliance promoters have already identified the topics to focus on: security of supply, price predictability, and the effects of network management costs on families and businesses.

For those living or working in Switzerland, the first step is to understand what the agreement entails concretely. The alliance intends to provide informational materials on the contents of the agreement and on the economic and stability benefits that would derive from it. This serves to build a foundation of collective awareness before any referendum decision.

Practical implications for family and business budgets

The energy issue is not abstract: it directly impacts the cost of living in Switzerland. In winter, when energy imports increase, the cost of network stabilization rises proportionally. Without an agreement regulating this dynamic, such additional costs would be transferred to monthly bills.

Swiss families, especially in regions where electric heating is widespread, would be hit by significant increases. Small and medium-sized enterprises, which often operate with narrow margins, would see increased management costs of productive structures. For large industrial groups like Sulzer as well, the predictability of energy prices represents a key element for maintaining international competitiveness.

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