In order to prevent a power shortage in the coming winter, the Federal Council has already decided on various measures. These include the hydropower reserve, the construction of a reserve power plant in Birr AGthe increase in capacity in the transmission network, the rescue package for system-critical electricity companies, the temporary reduction in the residual water charge and the energy-saving campaign.
On September 7th, the Federal Council issued the Ordinance on the Establishment of a hydropower reserve approved and came into force on October 1st. This ordinance is now to be extended to become the winter reserve ordinance, which, in addition to the hydropower reserve, now also includes reserve power plants and emergency power groups.
The ordinance dates back to February 16, 2022, when the Federal Council decided to draw up the provisions necessary for the construction and operation of peak-load power plants. That is the basis for this “Concept peak load gas power plant” Elcom, which provides for a reserve power plant capacity of 1000 megawatts (MW) from 2025. With a decision of August 17, the Federal Council specified the procedure and brought forward the installation of the reserve power plants. In order for the provisions to take effect this winter, they are now being laid down in the Winter Reserve Ordinance. This is limited until the end of 2026 and is to be replaced as soon as possible by a regulation at the legislative level.