In 2026, no utility in the region pays the same amount: in the City of Zurich, ewz remunerates an average of 12.91 Rp./kWh, Stadtwerk Winterthur seasonally 10 to 13 Rp., EKZ and Glattwerk pass on the market price plus guarantee of origin, in Aargau AEW lets you choose between 8.2 Rp. fixed and market price, and in Zug WWZ pays market price plus 1 Rp. For a typical system, several hundred francs per year can quickly separate the lowest and highest grid area. (As of: August 2026)
Key points in brief
- The range in 2026 extends from the statutory minimum remuneration of around 6 Rp./kWh to 14 Rp. in Zurich's neighbourhood electricity model.
- The address determines the grid operator – the comparison serves planning, not choosing a provider.
- Fixed-price models (ewz, AEW fixed variant) give predictability; market-price models (EKZ, WWZ, Glattwerk) fluctuate with the quarter.
- The guarantee of origin makes up to a third of the remuneration – but is almost nowhere automatic.
- Seasonal models like in Winterthur sound attractive, but PV surplus falls predominantly in the summer quarters.
Which tariffs apply in 2026 in the cantons of ZH, AG and ZG?
In 2026 the region breaks down into clearly distinguishable tariff zones – here's the comparison by canton, with the figures for the typical single-family home system:
| Canton / area | Grid operator | Remuneration 2026 (incl. GO, single-family home system) |
|---|---|---|
| City of Zurich | ewz | Avg. 12.91 Rp./kWh (incl. 3 Rp. GO + 2 Rp. solar incentive); LEG model solarquartier: 14 Rp. |
| Canton ZH (Winterthur) | Stadtwerk Winterthur | seasonal: 13.00 Rp. winter / 10.00 Rp. summer quarters |
| Canton ZH (remaining area) | EKZ | Reference market price + up to 3.00 Rp. GO; floor 6.0 Rp. – since the Q2 slump (3.90 Rp.) the floor applies: 9.0 Rp. |
| Canton ZH (Dübendorf) | Glattwerk | Reference market price + 1.50 Rp. GO (on request); floor 6.0 Rp. |
| Aargau | AEW | Choice model: 8.2 Rp. fixed incl. GO or reference market price |
| Zug | WWZ | Reference market price + 1.00 Rp. solar GO |
Guideline values excl. VAT, as of: August 2026, according to the utilities' current publications. Tariffs are adjusted periodically – your grid operator's current publication is authoritative. All figures in detail: ewz · EKZ · Winterthur · Glattwerk · AEW · WWZ.
How these models fundamentally work – reference market price, minimum remuneration, the four model philosophies – is explained in the comprehensive tariff overview. This comparison here answers the more concrete question: what does that mean in francs in 2026, and which model does better in which situation?
What does a typical system actually bring in in 2026?
Let's work through it – with a realistic example: a 10 kWp system on a single-family home often feeds in around 4,000 kWh per year after deducting self-consumption. With this surplus, the tariffs from above give:
| Grid area | Calculation (simplified) | Annual remuneration (order of magnitude) |
|---|---|---|
| ewz (City of ZH) | 4,000 × 12.91 Rp. | ≈ CHF 515 |
| Winterthur | 4,000 × 10–13 Rp. depending on seasonal distribution | ≈ CHF 400–520 |
| EKZ | 4,000 × (market price + up to 3 Rp.) | ≈ CHF 360–530, depending on quarter |
| Glattwerk | 4,000 × (market price + 1.5 Rp.) | ≈ CHF 300–470, depending on quarter |
| AEW fixed (AG) | 4,000 × 8.2 Rp. | ≈ CHF 328 |
| WWZ (ZG) | 4,000 × (market price + 1 Rp.) | ≈ CHF 280–450, depending on quarter |
Illustrative example calculation with guideline values, as of: August 2026, without obligation. The lower end of the market-price ranges corresponds to the «statutory floor» scenario – and that's exactly the case since Q2 2026. The actual surplus depends on system size and self-consumption; market-price ranges are estimates based on the quarterly trend so far. Your utility's current tariffs are authoritative.
Two things stand out. First: between the City of Zurich and a market-price area in a weak quarterly year, an identical system quickly differs by CHF 150 to 250 per year – a four-figure amount over the system's lifetime. Second: the ranges of the market-price models are wide, because nobody knows the quarterly values of the coming years. Anyone calculating profitability takes the conservative end of the range – not the best case.
Fixed or market price: which model does better in 2026?
The honest answer: this can only be decided in hindsight – but the logic of the choice can be clearly described.
Buying a fixed price means buying predictability. ewz customers and AEW customers on the fixed variant know exactly, down to the Rappen, what the kilowatt-hour brings in. In return, they forgo the chance that a strong market quarter yields more. In Aargau this is a genuine annual decision: AEW lets you choose between fixed price and market price – anyone who places a lot of value on a reliable calculation takes the 8.2 Rp.; anyone who can bear the fluctuation takes the market.
Taking the market price means living with the summer paradox. The market-price models of EKZ, WWZ and Glattwerk don't fluctuate randomly, but systematically: precisely in sunny summer quarters, when all systems feed in at the same time, the reference market price tends downward. So the solar producer structurally sells exactly when supply is greatest. The statutory minimum remuneration of 6.0 Rp. (up to 30 kWp) sets the floor – more on the mechanics in the article on the minimum remuneration.
And the seasonal model? Winterthur's 13 Rp. in winter sound like the region's best deal – but a typical system's surplus falls predominantly in the summer quarters at 10 Rp. The seasonal model specifically rewards systems that also deliver in winter: steep roofs, east-west and façade installations. For the standard south-facing system, it works out closer to the summer value than the winter figure suggests.
Above everything stands the rule that applies in every grid area: self-consumed electricity beats fed-in electricity – the tariff choice optimises second place. Whether more self-consumption or more feed-in relieves the budget more is the upstream and more important question.
What should you watch out for when comparing tariffs in 2026?
Don't leave the GO on the table. At EKZ it's up to 3 Rp., at Glattwerk 1.5 Rp. on request, at WWZ 1 Rp. – the guarantee of origin makes up a relevant part of the remuneration and is almost nowhere paid automatically. Check the registration, otherwise you're giving away up to a quarter of the yield depending on the utility. How it's done: Selling the GO.
Actively choose the model with your own utility. Options like AEW's, or the request at Glattwerk, are the producer's responsibility to act on. Anyone who never chooses gets the default – which isn't always the best variant.
Check briefly every year. Fixed prices are republished annually, market prices change quarterly. The tariff your system was planned with isn't the tariff forever – a brief look at the utility's annual publication belongs in the operating routine.
Calculate conservatively for a new build. For the investment decision, the long-term, cautiously estimated average counts. A quote that calculates with the best quarterly value or the Winterthur winter tariff as a permanent state is dressing up the numbers.
The most common comparison mistake we see in 2026: clients compare the neighbouring town with their own and get annoyed about «unfair» tariffs – but the grid operator can't be chosen, and the energy goes into the wrong question. The right question is: what can I get out of my grid area? In an EKZ area, that means: register the GO, done – that's up to 3 Rp. for one letter. In an AEW area: deliberately make the fixed-or-market choice instead of letting it lapse. And everywhere: optimise self-consumption before discussing Rappen on feed-in. The tariff table is the starting point of planning, not its result.
Frequently asked questions
Which utility pays the most for solar power in 2026?
For the typical single-family home system, ewz leads with an average of 12.91 Rp./kWh, 14 Rp. in the neighbourhood electricity model. Stadtwerk Winterthur follows with 13 Rp. in the winter quarters. The market-price models can catch up in strong quarters, but are usually lower on annual average.
Can I switch to a utility with a better feed-in tariff?
No – the grid operator is tied to the address. What you can influence is the model within your utility (for instance with AEW), the GO registration, and above all self-consumption. The comparison helps with expectations and system planning, not with choosing a provider.
Why does my remuneration fluctuate from quarter to quarter?
Because your utility probably runs a market-price model: you're remunerated at the federal government's quarterly-averaged reference market price, plus any GO surcharge. In summer quarters with a lot of solar feed-in, this price tends downward. The minimum remuneration of 6.0 Rp. (up to 30 kWp) forms the floor.
Is feeding in even still worthwhile with the 2026 tariffs?
Yes – the widespread view that «feed-in doesn't bring anything anymore» dates from years with 4-Rappen tariffs and doesn't hold true in the region in 2026. Between 8 and 13 Rp. is realistic. What remains true: self-consumption is more valuable, so it's optimised first and the surplus is planned as a second pillar of income.
How often should I re-compare the tariffs?
Once a year is enough: fixed-price models publish new rates for the year, and that's also when model choices (AEW) or requests (GO) come up. For market-price models, it's also worth occasionally checking the quarterly value – for managing expectations, not for hectic reactions.
Free initial consultation
What applies at your address – and what can you get out of it?
We calculate your system with your grid operator's actual 2026 tariff, including GO registration and model choice – conservatively rather than dressed up.
Prefer to talk? +41 78 830 83 35
Photovoltaic installer for your region →
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: Tariff sheets and publications from ewz, EKZ, Stadtwerk Winterthur, Glattwerk, AEW Energie AG and WWZ Energie AG (2026), Swiss Federal Office of Energy (reference market price), Energy Ordinance (minimum remuneration), Pronovo AG (GO).
Last updated: 9 July 2026 · Author: ecoEn editorial team
