Solar energy
as a renter in Switzerland.
What you can actually do.

Switzerland has a well-known solar problem that nobody talks about. The country gets excellent sun — especially in the south — and has added gigawatts of rooftop solar in the past decade. But the majority of Swiss residents have had no way to benefit from any of it. Not because they don’t want to. Because they rent.

Solar panels go on roofs. Roofs are owned by landlords. Landlords install panels when it makes financial sense for them — which doesn’t always align with tenants getting cheaper electricity. And even when a building has solar, the structure of a ZEV (the old sharing model) often left tenants with pricing they couldn’t negotiate and contracts they didn’t fully understand.

The Lokale Elektrizitätsgemeinschaft — the LEG — changes the equation. Not for building owners. For renters.

The old problem: solar was for owners

Before 2026, there were two ways a renter could theoretically benefit from solar electricity. Neither was very good.

Option 1: Your building has a ZEV

A Zusammenschluss zum Eigenverbrauch (ZEV) allows tenants in a building with rooftop solar to buy that solar electricity directly rather than from the grid utility. The problem: this requires your landlord to have set it up, to manage the billing, and to price it fairly. Swiss law sets a ceiling (the local grid tariff) but not a floor. In practice, ZEV pricing has varied widely. Some tenants get a good deal. Others find the “solar savings” are smaller than expected after management fees and billing charges.

Option 2: Buy a “green electricity” product from your utility

Every Swiss electricity utility offers green energy products — typically branded as Naturstrom, Solarstrom or similar. You pay a premium over the standard rate for a certificate-based guarantee that your electricity comes from renewable sources. The catch: you’re not actually getting cheaper electricity. You’re paying more for a label. The solar power still goes through the same utility infrastructure at the same or higher price.

What the LEG actually enables for renters

The Lokale Elektrizitätsgemeinschaft (LEG) is a new legal framework operational from January 2026. It allows solar electricity to be traded directly between producers and consumers within the same distribution network operator’s grid area — without having to be in the same building.

For renters, this is the important part: you don’t need your landlord’s involvement. You don’t need panels on your building. You don’t need to cancel your existing electricity provider. You join a community of nearby solar producers and consumers, and a portion of your electricity consumption is covered by solar electricity from that community at a contractually guaranteed rate below your current grid tariff.

The myths that are keeping renters from acting

Click any myth below to see why it’s wrong.

What you need to do — step by step

What the LEG cannot do (being honest about limits)

The LEG doesn’t give you access to all your electricity at community rates. It allocates community solar proportionally: if your community’s solar production covers 40% of combined consumption during daylight hours, approximately 40% of your consumption is matched at the community rate during that time. At night, in winter, or during high-demand periods, more of your consumption falls back to the standard grid tariff.

In practice, a well-matched community typically covers 30–60% of a consumer’s consumption at the community rate, depending on the producer-to-consumer ratio and seasonal variation. The savings are real but partial — not a total replacement of your utility bill.

If your building already has a ZEV: can you still join a LEG?

Yes. The two models are not mutually exclusive. Your ZEV operates within your building, covering building-level solar production. Your LEG community operates at neighbourhood scale. A tenant already in a building ZEV can additionally join a LEG to access community solar from outside the building for any consumption not covered by the ZEV allocation. The combined effect is more of your total consumption covered at below-grid rates.

Frequently asked questions

Does my landlord need to approve my joining a LEG?

No. Under the revised StromVG (Electricity Supply Act), consumers have the right to participate in a local electricity community. This right is independent of the landlord’s consent. Your lease agreement cannot override Swiss federal energy law. If you receive any communication from your landlord claiming you cannot join a LEG, they are incorrect — and Upgrid’s support team can help you understand your rights.

What happens if I move flats?

Your LEG membership is tied to your consumption point (address), not to you personally. When you move, you notify Upgrid of your new address. If the new address is also within a covered network area, your membership transfers. If not, you join the waitlist for your new area. There are no cancellation fees for moves.

Can I join if my electricity is included in my rent?

If your electricity is billed as part of Nebenkosten (ancillary costs) and your landlord pays the utility directly, the consumption point is technically the building rather than your individual flat, which complicates direct LEG participation. In this setup the more relevant question is whether your building could join as a consumer — something Upgrid can advise on directly. Register and indicate this in the notes field.

Will I actually see a difference on my bill?

Your main utility bill stays unchanged — they still invoice you for your consumption. Upgrid issues a separate monthly settlement that shows the community portion of your consumption billed at the community rate, minus the standard utility charges for that portion. The net effect is a credit or a lower effective total. Most members see annual savings of CHF 80–150 depending on consumption, coverage ratio and their grid area’s tariff.