In 2026, the Werke am Zürichsee remunerate exported solar power exactly according to the federal model: the reference market price (quarterly, SFOE) with the statutory minimum remuneration of 6.0 Rp./kWh as a floor for systems under 30 kW. The utility pays no surcharge of its own – it doesn't purchase the guarantee of origin (GO), so you can market it freely. New from 2026, the utility shows metering costs separately (CHF 6.50/month for direct metering, excl. VAT). Source: tariff sheet «Vergütung und Messkosten für Rücklieferanlagen 2026». (As of July 2026)
Key points in brief
- In 2026, remuneration follows the nationwide uniform reference market price (quarterly, SFOE).
- For systems under 30 kW, the statutory minimum remuneration of 6.0 Rp./kWh applies as a floor.
- The utility pays no surcharge of its own: you market the guarantee of origin (GO) freely.
- New from 2026: metering costs are billed separately (CHF 6.50/month for direct metering, excl. VAT).
- Your address determines the grid operator – you can't switch it.
How is solar power remunerated in the Werke am Zürichsee area?
Since the Electricity Act, a uniform principle has applied nationwide for feed-in: what's remunerated is the reference market price – the quarterly averaged market price calculated and published by the Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) after each quarter. The Werke am Zürichsee also remunerate exported solar power on this basis.
That means for you: remuneration is no longer fixed for the whole year, but follows the market – tending to be higher in winter, lower in summer, when a lot of solar power arises at once. How the reference market price works is explained in the article Reference market price; the big overview of Zurich's grid operators is provided by Feed-in tariffs at a glance.
What's guaranteed – and what should you check?
Two things are guaranteed by law, a third depends on the grid operator:
| Component | 2026 rule (Werke am Zürichsee tariff sheet) |
|---|---|
| Base remuneration | Reference market price (quarterly, SFOE) |
| Minimum remuneration: PV under 30 kW | 6.0 Rp./kWh (independent of system output) |
| Minimum remuneration: 30–150 kW without self-consumption | 6.2 Rp./kWh |
| Minimum remuneration: 30–150 kW with self-consumption | by formula (30 kW × 6 Rp.) / system output |
| Guarantee of origin (GO) | not purchased by the utility – freely marketable |
| Metering tariff (new from 2026) | CHF 6.50/month direct metering · CHF 12.00/month transformer metering (excl. VAT) |
Values excl. VAT, as of July 2026, according to the tariff sheet «Vergütung und Messkosten für Rücklieferanlagen 2026» (valid from 1.1.2026). The reference market price changes quarterly – the Werke am Zürichsee's current publication is decisive.
The 6-centime floor for small systems is guaranteed nationwide – the details are covered by the article Minimum feed-in remuneration. What's notable at Lake Zurich: unlike EKZ, for example, the utility does not purchase the guarantee of origin – the ecological added value stays with the producer and can be marketed freely. And from 2026, the utility shows metering costs separately; in the viability calculation, these fixed costs belong on the expense side. What it looks like in the nearby ewz area is shown, for comparison, in the article ewz feed-in tariff.
What does that mean for the economics?
Either way, the same ranking applies at Lake Zurich as everywhere: the feed-in tariff is the extra revenue for the surplus – the economics are decided by self-consumption. Every kilowatt-hour used yourself is worth considerably more than every one exported. Shift consumption into the sun hours, pair a heat pump or EV with production, calculate a battery if the profile fits – only after that does the feed-in tariff count. Together with the incentives in the Canton of Zurich, the overall calculation stays solid.
At Lake Zurich, we're often asked: «How much does my utility pay for the electricity?» Our honest answer since the Electricity Act: that's no longer a fixed figure for the year, but a market price that's new every quarter – protected on the downside by 6 centimes. We advise checking the exact rate in the utility's current tariff sheet, rather than relying on old figures. And we steer attention to what really counts: it's not the feed-in tariff that makes the system profitable, but how much solar power stays in your own house. Anyone who optimises that is barely touched by fluctuations in the market price.
Frequently asked questions
How much do the Werke am Zürichsee pay for solar power?
Remuneration follows the federal quarterly averaged reference market price, with the statutory floor of 6.0 Rp./kWh for systems under 30 kW (as of July 2026). The utility pays no surcharge of its own; you market the guarantee of origin freely. The SFOE publishes the current quarterly value.
Why isn't the tariff fixed any more?
Because with the Electricity Act, all grid operators switched to the uniform reference market price, which is calculated quarterly by the SFOE. Fixed annual tariffs no longer exist under this model – in return, remuneration for small systems is protected on the downside at 6 Rp./kWh.
Can I switch grid operators if I don't like the tariff?
No. Your address determines the grid operator; switching isn't possible. Comparing feed-in tariffs is worthwhile for managing expectations, not for switching provider. That makes it all the more important to design your own system for high self-consumption – you have that in your own hands.
Where do I find the current feed-in tariff?
In the tariff sheet «Vergütung und Messkosten für Rücklieferanlagen» on the Werke am Zürichsee's website; the Federal Office of Energy publishes the quarterly reference market price. Older figures found online should be treated with caution – the current publication is decisive.
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Sources: Werke am Zürichsee AG, tariff sheet «Vergütung und Messkosten für Rücklieferanlagen 2026» (valid from 1.1.2026, released 17.11.2025); Energy Act Art. 15 and Energy Ordinance Art. 12; Federal Office of Energy (reference market price). As of July 2026.
Last updated: 9 July 2026 · Author: ecoEn editorial team
