A self-consumption community (ZEV) acts as a single customer vis-à-vis the grid operator: what the solar system produces is first consumed internally by the participants — only the remainder flows into the grid as surplus and is remunerated at the utility's normal feed-in tariff. The money goes to whoever owns the system — usually the ownership group, which also handles internal billing with the residents. (As of: July 2026)
Key points in brief
- Vis-à-vis the grid, the ZEV exists as a connection with one meter: solar power distributed internally does not touch the public grid and triggers no grid usage fees.
- Only the surplus — production minus internal consumption — is fed in and remunerated according to the local utility's tariff model (overview); the legal minimum remuneration also applies here.
- The remuneration flows to the ZEV or the system ownership — not to the individual tenants.
- Internally, the following applies: residents pay a fair, regulated price for solar power — it must not exceed what they would otherwise pay for the external standard product.
- The higher the internal consumption, the better the calculation: solar power sold internally is worth more than the fed-in surplus.
The basic principle: One meter towards the outside
The ZEV bundles producers and consumers behind a shared grid connection — the apartment building with a roof system is the classic example. For the grid operator, the individual apartment meters thus vanish from the world: they see only one measuring point via which the ZEV draws and feeds in. What flows internally from the roof into the apartments simply does not exist from the perspective of the grid — and that is precisely the economic core of the model: no grid usage fees and levies are incurred for internally distributed solar power.
The measurement within the building — who consumed how much solar and how much grid electricity — is handled by the ZEV itself, using private meters (submetering) or a billing service provider. Model selection and demarcation from vZEV and LEG are covered by the major comparison.
What happens to the surplus?
On sunny workdays, the system produces more than the house consumes — this surplus flows into the grid via the shared meter. From here on, nothing ZEV-specific applies anymore: the grid operator remunerates the feed-in according to their normal tariff model, just like with any single-family home — in the region, depending on the address, this means the stable ewz tariff, Winterthur seasonal prices, or the reference market price with legal minimum remuneration as a floor. The guarantee of origin for the fed-in portion can also be registered and remunerated as usual.
An order of magnitude for classification: A well-occupied apartment building consumes a significantly higher share of production internally than a single-family home thanks to many parties — the surplus share is correspondingly smaller, but absolutely still considerable in the case of large roofs.
Who gets the money?
The feed-in tariff is paid by the utility to the holder of the connection – practically speaking, to the self-consumption community (ZEV) or the owner of the system. This is only logical: whoever financed the system receives its proceeds. The residents benefit on the other hand – via the internal solar electricity price, which is cheaper than the external product.
In a condominium, it works analogously: if the system belongs to the community, the remuneration flows into the joint account and is distributed according to value quotas or regulations. Neatly regulated, this belongs in the ZEV agreement before the system is running – subsequent distribution discussions are the most frequent ZEV conflict that we see.
The internal electricity price: What are ZEVs allowed to charge?
The ZEV sells the solar electricity internally to the residents – and this is where the law sets guardrails to protect tenants: the internal price must be based on actual costs and must not exceed what residents would otherwise pay for the external standard electricity product. Solar electricity from your own roof must therefore never be more expensive for tenants than grid electricity – in well-calculated ZEVs it is noticeably below that, and the owners still profit because their generation costs are lower.
Three approaches have established themselves for billing: the owners handle the billing themselves (small buildings), the property management takes it over with the service charges, or a specialised service provider handles measurement and invoicing for a fee. From about half a dozen parties upwards, the service provider is usually worth their money.
The optimisation logic: internal beats external
For the economic viability of the ZEV, the same hierarchy applies as in the single-family home, only with a larger lever: every kilowatt-hour consumed internally is worth more than every kilowatt-hour fed in – internally it replaces the full purchase price, externally it only brings the feed-in tariff. The adjustment screws: schedule shared consumers (heat pump, boiler, general electricity, laundry room) for the hours of sunshine, integrate electric vehicle charging stations, check a battery storage system if the profile fits. And where the surplus structurally remains large, a look at LEG marketing into the neighbourhood has been worthwhile since 2026 – it complements the ZEV instead of replacing it.
The sentence that we correct most frequently during ZEV consultations comes from tenants: «The owner is cashing in twice.» In fact, the division of labour is fair if it is set up cleanly: the owners bear the investment and risk and receive internal electricity proceeds plus surplus remuneration in return; tenants pay less for solar electricity than for grid electricity without having invested a single franc. The model can only tip over in the event of opaque billing – which is why every ZEV agreement must include a clear pricing formula and every annual statement must show the solar share, grid purchase and surplus. Where this is in place, experience shows there is no dispute.
Frequently asked questions
Does every tenant receive a share of the feed-in tariff?
No – the remuneration flows to the system owner. Residents benefit via the cheaper internal solar electricity price; this is how the division of roles is designed in the ZEV model.
Does the minimum remuneration also apply to the ZEV surplus?
Yes – compared to the grid, the ZEV is a normal producer. The tariff model and lower limit of the local utility apply to the fed-in surplus just like for any other system.
Can the ZEV also sell the surplus in an LEG instead of feeding it into the grid?
Yes, since 2026 – ZEV internal plus LEG for the surplus can be explicitly combined and is often the best constellation for large roofs. Details: ZEV, vZEV and LEG compared.
How is the surplus treated for tax purposes?
The feed-in proceeds are income of the owners and must be declared accordingly – for rented properties as part of the property statement. Basics: Tax deduction and solar system.
What happens if a tenant does not want to participate in the ZEV?
Protection rules apply to existing tenants – joining in practice is handled via the lease agreement or service charge regulation, and the internal price must not exceed the external standard product. For new rentals, ZEV participation usually becomes part of the contract.
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Sources: Energy Act / Energy Ordinance (self-consumption rules), ElCom (FAQ, tenant protection regarding internal electricity price), tariff sheets of regional grid operators.
Last updated: 9 July 2026 · Author: ecoEn editorial team
