Since 2026, EKZ has remunerated exported solar power according to the federal quarterly averaged reference market price. On top come up to 3 Rp./kWh for the guarantee of origin. Remuneration is protected on the downside: for PV systems up to 30 kWp, a minimum remuneration of 6.0 Rp./kWh applies. Because the reference market price collapsed to 3.90 Rp./kWh in Q2 2026, this floor currently applies – around 9 Rp./kWh including the guarantee of origin. (As of August 2026)
Key points in brief
- Since 2026, the market price model of the new Electricity Act has applied at EKZ: the base remuneration follows the quarterly averaged reference market price calculated by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy.
- The reference value fluctuates strongly: Q1 2026 around 10.27 Rp./kWh, Q2 2026 only 3.90 Rp./kWh – the floor has applied since then.
- Anyone who transfers the guarantee of origin (GO) to EKZ receives up to 3.00 Rp./kWh extra.
- Safety net: minimum remuneration of 6.0 Rp./kWh for PV up to 30 kWp (6.2 Rp. for larger systems without self-consumption).
- Payment is monthly, settlement quarterly – for the economic calculation, the annual average counts, not a single quarter.
How does the EKZ market price model work?
With the new Electricity Act, EKZ replaced fixed feed-in tariffs with market-based remuneration in 2026. The mechanism: the Swiss Federal Office of Energy calculates an averaged reference market price for each quarter; EKZ adopts this value as the base remuneration for your exports. How much this value fluctuates became clear in 2026: in the first quarter it was around 10.27 Rp./kWh, in the second only 3.90 Rp./kWh – below the statutory floor.
| Component | Rate |
|---|---|
| Base remuneration | quarterly SFOE reference market price (Q1 2026: ~10.27 · Q2 2026: ~3.90 Rp./kWh) |
| Guarantee of origin (GO) | up to 3.00 Rp./kWh extra |
| Minimum remuneration PV up to 30 kWp | 6.0 Rp./kWh |
| Minimum remuneration PV from 30 kWp without self-consumption | 6.2 Rp./kWh |
Guideline values as of August 2026. Tariffs are adjusted quarterly – the current EKZ tariff publication applies.
For you as a producer, this means: remuneration breathes with the electricity market. In quarters with high market prices, you earn more than under the old fixed tariffs; in weak quarters, less. Payment is monthly, with detailed settlement per quarter.
How low can remuneration fall?
Not below the statutory minimum remuneration – that's the protection mechanism of the new Electricity Act for small producers. For PV systems up to 30 kWp, i.e. practically all single-family home systems, this floor is 6.0 Rp./kWh. Even if the electricity market collapses in a sunny summer quarter (when all solar systems export at the same time, and that's exactly when market prices are low), you receive at least this value.
To be honest: the minimum remuneration is a safety net, not a comfort cushion. Calculate your system so that it works out even in a low-price scenario – the lever for this is self-consumption, more on that shortly.
What does the guarantee of origin actually bring?
Up to 3.00 Rp./kWh extra – and that's anything but a detail: as long as the 6.0 Rp./kWh floor applies, the guarantee of origin raises remuneration by half. The guarantee of origin (GO) proves that your electricity comes from a renewable source; if you transfer it to EKZ, they remunerate it separately. Prerequisites are registration of the system with Pronovo and physical delivery to EKZ; for larger systems, certification by an accredited auditor is added.
For a typical roof system, GO registration runs as part of the regular Pronovo registration – for ecoEn projects, it's part of the standard package, so not a centime is forgotten.
EKZ or ewz: who pays better?
The two large Zurich grid operators opted for opposite models in 2026: EKZ passes on the market price (with minimum remuneration as a floor), ewz pays a stable annual tariff averaging 12.91 Rp./kWh. On paper, ewz is currently ahead – but the comparison is moot: you can't choose your grid operator, it depends on your address. The difference is mainly relevant for managing expectations: in the EKZ area, plan with fluctuating remuneration and calculate the economics over the annual average, not the best quarterly value.
What does this mean for the economics of your system?
The market price model shifts the weight even more towards self-consumption: every self-consumed kilowatt-hour saves you the full purchase tariff including grid usage and levies – regardless of what the market is paying. In concrete terms, three levers are particularly worthwhile in the EKZ area: shifting consumption into sunny hours, coupling large consumers such as a heat pump or EV with production and, with a suitable profile, looking at storage (optimising self-consumption).
Export nevertheless remains a second source of revenue – with the GO, you currently reach around 9 Rp./kWh, correspondingly more in quarters with high market prices. Only the order is fixed: consume yourself first, then export.
Since the switch to the market price model, we've seen two opposite reactions in the EKZ area: some calculate with the best quarterly value and are disappointed later, others have heard of «6 centimes» and consider export worthless – both fall short. That's why we consistently calculate quotes with a conservative range over the annual average and show the GO share separately. And: the most common avoidable mistake is still the forgotten GO – for a 10 kWp system, that's several hundred francs over the years that are simply left lying around.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find the current quarterly value?
EKZ publishes the valid feed-in tariffs including the reference market price on its tariff page; the underlying reference value is calculated by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy. Check the value before every economic calculation – it changes quarterly.
Does the minimum remuneration apply automatically?
Yes. If the reference market price falls below the statutory floor, EKZ still remunerates PV systems up to 30 kWp at 6.0 Rp./kWh. You don't have to do anything – that's exactly been the case since Q2 2026.
Do I receive GO remuneration automatically?
No – the guarantee of origin requires registration with Pronovo and transfer to EKZ. For existing systems, check whether the GO is actually being remunerated; for new systems, registration belongs on the commissioning checklist.
Why do I receive less than my neighbour in the ewz area?
Because the two utilities run different models: ewz pays a stable, politically supported annual tariff, EKZ the quarterly market price with minimum remuneration. The grid operator is tied to the address – switching isn't possible.
Is a solar system still worth it in the EKZ area?
In most cases, yes – the economics arise primarily from self-consumption and the one-off feed-in incentive, not from export. What this means for your roof: Does a solar system pay off?
Free initial consultation
Your calculation for the EKZ area – calculated conservatively.
We calculate self-consumption, feed-in revenue (incl. GO) and incentives for your address – free of charge and without obligation.
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Swissolar-certified specialist company · ESTI installation authorisation (Art. 14 NIV) · in Zurich since 2017 · over 150 systems completed · a personal answer from the specialist company, no call centre
Sources: EKZ (feed-in tariffs, tariff collection), Swiss Federal Office of Energy (reference market price), Pronovo AG.
Last updated: 9 July 2026 · Author: ecoEn editorial team
