Regulation for a Single Tariff Model

This regulation defines the formal criteria to which tariffs for the supply of electricity to users must adhere in their structure.

1 The tariffs for the supply of electricity to the user must be transparent, simple, and formulated in an understandable manner.

2 The elements that are decisive for invoicing must be easily verifiable by the user.

1 Distribution companies have the faculty to subdivide users into categories and subcategories based on power and/or the purpose of the draw: domestic economy, industry, commerce, agriculture, etc.

2 Prices must be uniform for all users within the same category.

1 Distribution companies are authorized to conclude special contracts, subject to Article 35 letter e), paragraph 3 of the Law on the Municipalization of Public Services (LMSP).

2 Upon written request, the interested Municipalities can obtain a list of users in their territory with whom special contracts have been concluded.

1 In tariffs, subject to any special cases, the following units of measurement are used

a) voltage V (volt)

b) current intensity A (ampere)

c) electrical power kW (kilowatt)

d) electrical energy kWh (kilowatt-hour)

e) reactive energy kVarh (kilovar-hour)

f) power factor cosphi (cosine phi)

Every tariff structure is composed of four basic elements

a) Basic fee, subscriptions, rentals

This item refers to costs associated with the meter, services (network or other), and those independent of consumption (advances, invoices, consulting, information, on-call service, etc.) of a fixed nature and easily attributable to each category of users in an equitable manner (e.g., in CHF/month, CHF/quarter, CHF/half-year, CHF/service).

b) Energy price

This tariff item indicates the price of electrical energy in cts/kWh for active energy, resp. cts/kVarh for reactive energy, in the respective time and seasonal bands chosen and offered to the distributor (e.g., undifferentiated, day and night, summer-winter, etc.).

c) Power price

Depending on the category of users, various companies will have different physical instruments and methods to express this element of the tariff structure (e.g., subscribed power, measured power, energy consumed during specific time bands, etc.).

d) Legal contributions

This tariff element consists of various legal contributions (e.g., exclusive right granted to Municipalities for the distribution of electrical energy) that must appear on the invoice.

1 The price of power must be in relation to the granted (subscribed) and/or measured (drawn) power.

2 In the case of limited power (e.g., domestic use), the price of power may be determined by other parameters, provided they are easily understandable by the user (e.g., energy consumed or calibration of the inlet valves).

3 The price of power also takes into account the user's consumption (draw) characteristic.

Distribution companies have the right to introduce price differentiations for both power and energy, based on the period of energy utilization: seasonal differentiations (such as summer and winter) and daily differentiations (such as peak and off-peak tariffs).

1 Distribution companies have the right to apply special tariffs for supplies

a) that are limited in time (power supply to construction sites, etc.);

b) that do not justify metering (telephone booths, etc.);

c) related to contractual obligations (public lighting, etc.).

2 The concession agreement must specify the principles governing these tariffs, and in particular the type and scope of in-kind services granted by the companies to the Municipality.

The invoice for electricity supply must meet the following requirements

a) explicitly indicate the supply period to which it refers;

b) indicate the initial and final readings of the meter;

c) indicate the quantities invoiced, the unit prices and the total prices;

d) indicate the legal contributions.

Customer Information

Users must be informed about tariffs through publication in the official gazette or by sending them at the time of their adoption and on the occasion of any subsequent modification.

1 This Regulation shall be published in the Official Gazette of Laws and Executive Acts and shall enter into force immediately. [1]

2 Distribution companies are obliged to conform their tariffs to the present provisions within three years from the entry into force of this Regulation.

Published in OG 2003, 507.

[1] Entry into force: December 30, 2003 - OG 2003, 507.