In 2026, ewz remunerates exported solar power at an average of 12.91 Rp./kWh – made up of energy (8.5 Rp. peak, 4.45 Rp. off-peak), 3 Rp. for the guarantee of origin and, new, 2 Rp. solar incentive. Anyone who sells their surplus to the neighbourhood via ewz.solarquartier reaches 14 Rp./kWh. That makes the ewz area one of the most attractive feed-in locations in the region. (As of July 2026)
Key points in brief
- An average of 12.91 Rp./kWh for exports into the ewz grid – valid since January 2026 in the ewz supply area (City of Zurich and parts of Graubünden).
- Newly included: 2 Rp./kWh solar incentive from public service funds – it applies to all solar power not used on site.
- ewz deliberately relies on a stable tariff instead of the fluctuating quarterly market price of the new Electricity Act.
- Alternative since 2026: local electricity communities – via ewz.solarquartier at 14 Rp./kWh.
- Nevertheless: self-consumed electricity remains economically more valuable than exported – optimise self-consumption first.
How high is the ewz feed-in tariff in 2026?
The remuneration consists of three components:
| Component | Rate 2026 |
|---|---|
| Energy, peak tariff | 8.5 Rp./kWh |
| Energy, off-peak tariff | 4.45 Rp./kWh |
| Guarantee of origin (GO) solar | 3.0 Rp./kWh |
| Solar incentive (new 2026) | 2.0 Rp./kWh |
| Average over the year | 12.91 Rp./kWh |
Guideline values as of July 2026. Tariffs are adjusted periodically by ewz – the current ewz tariff publication applies.
The average of 12.91 Rp. results from the fact that a solar system exports most of its surplus during the day – i.e. mostly at the peak tariff. The actual mix depends on your export profile; anyone who covers the evening hours with storage, for example, and exports more at midday, is closer to the peak tariff value.
Why does ewz pay more than the legal minimum?
Since 2026, the new Electricity Act has applied throughout Switzerland: remuneration for exports is based on the quarterly averaged market price, cushioned by a statutory minimum remuneration that protects producers from extremely low market phases. For system owners, the model means one thing above all: planning uncertainty, because the market price fluctuates from quarter to quarter.
ewz has taken its own path here and publishes a stable annual tariff well above what the market-price logic would yield in weak quarters. The city's reasoning is explicitly political: investment security for solar projects and an incentive to fully cover roofs in the densely built-up city rather than only for own needs. The 2 Rp./kWh incentive share is financed from the utility's public service funds.
For your economic calculation, this means: in the ewz area, you can count on more reliable feed-in revenue than in grid areas that pass on the market price one-to-one – but it's still no guarantee for future tariff years.
What is the new solar incentive of 2 Rp./kWh?
The 2 Rp. are not part of the energy price, but a deliberate surcharge by the city for all solar power that is not used on site. The scope is remarkable: the surcharge is paid both for classic export into the ewz grid and when you market your electricity within a local electricity community. So the city subsidises not the export channel but solar production itself – consistently following through on the goal of covering every usable roof area.
Is ewz.solarquartier with 14 Rp./kWh worth it?
Since 2026, the Electricity Act has allowed local electricity communities (LEG): producers sell their surplus directly to consumers in the neighbourhood instead of handing it to the utility. ewz has set up the ewz.solarquartier platform for this – producers receive 14 Rp./kWh there, a good cent more than in the standard model, and tenants without their own roof get access to local solar power. Several thousand households in the City of Zurich were already connected at launch.
Whether switching is worthwhile for you depends on system size and export profile – for a typical 10 kWp system with a few thousand kWh of surplus, we're talking about a modest but steady additional revenue. How LEGs work legally and what to consider when participating: Local electricity communities explained.
Exporting is good – self-consumption remains better
As attractive as 12.91 Rp. is in the regional comparison: every self-consumed kilowatt-hour saves you the purchase tariff including grid usage and levies – and that is significantly higher than the feed-in remuneration. The order of priority for economics therefore remains unchanged: first optimise self-consumption (shift consumption into sunny hours, possibly add storage or a heat pump), then export the rest at a good tariff. The ewz tariff makes the second half of this calculation more pleasing – it doesn't replace the first.
In consultations in the City of Zurich, many prospective customers still reckon with the low feed-in tariffs that made headlines a few years ago – and size the system tightly to their own needs accordingly. With the current ewz tariff, this logic turns around somewhat: the additional costs for extra modules on the same roof area are low, and the exported surplus is properly remunerated. That's why, in the city, we almost always put both options side by side – minimal and full coverage – and let the numbers decide. Full coverage wins more often than you'd think.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to do anything to receive the 12.91 Rp.?
No – the remuneration applies automatically to exports into the ewz grid according to the tariff publication. The prerequisite is proper registration of the system with the utility; the guarantee of origin share requires ewz to take over your system's guarantees of origin.
Does the tariff also apply outside the City of Zurich?
It applies in the ewz supply area – besides the City of Zurich, also in the ewz-supplied areas of Graubünden. In the surrounding Zurich municipalities, the tariffs of the respective grid operator apply, such as EKZ.
How often does the feed-in tariff change?
ewz publishes its tariffs annually; the rate remains stable during the year – which distinguishes the model from the quarterly fluctuating market-price approach of the Electricity Act. Check the current publication before every economic calculation.
What's better: exporting or storing?
Both have their place. Storage raises self-consumption and thus the most valuable part of your production; the rest goes into the grid at the feed-in tariff. Whether storage pays off depends on your consumption profile and the storage price – since August 2026, the new storage incentive also helps in the City of Zurich.
Does feed-in remuneration count as taxable income?
In principle, yes – how the income is specifically recorded in the Canton of Zurich is covered in our tax deduction guide.
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Sources: ewz (tariff publication, press releases), City of Zurich (press releases June 2025 and December 2025), netzbetreiberinfo.ch.
Last updated: 9 July 2026 · Author: ecoEn editorial team
