Electricity prices will continue to rise in 2024. In addition to higher grid costs, grid operator Swissgrid is charging for the costs of winter reserves for the first time. An average household will pay more than double this year.
In total, such a household with an annual consumption of 4,500 kilowatt hours (kWh) will have to pay Swissgrid tariffs of 146 francs in 2024. In 2023, it cost him 70 francs on the electricity bill.
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This more than doubled tariff is explained by an increase in the price of the transmission network and by the cost of winter electricity reserves.
The services of the network manager will cost 92 francs. This represents 7% of the annual electricity bill. To this higher tariff will be added in 2024 compensation for hydroelectric reserves and reserve power plants. This will cost an additional 54 francs for the average consumer.
Coverage gap
Swissgrid explains the sharp increase in the price of the basic service of the transmission network by the services linked to ancillary services. Their price goes from 0.46 cents per kWh this year to 0.75 cents in 2024.
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According to its own information, the network operator expects an increase in acquisition costs for the reserve of control power. It must also absorb a coverage deficit which is due to the sharp increase in electricity prices.
In addition, the tariff for transmission losses increases from 0.3 to 0.34 cents per kWh. Again, the reason for this, according to Swissgrid, is the sharp increase in supply costs in a context of high prices.
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