ZEV Switzerland 2026:
Self-Consumption Group
Explained
What is a ZEV, what does it cost, who can join — and when is an LEG the better option? The complete guide for building owners, landlords and tenants. With interactive savings calculator and decision tool.
Looking for a full comparison of all three models? → ZEV vs. LEG vs. vZEV — complete comparison →
ZEV stands for Zusammenschluss zum Eigenverbrauch, a self-consumption group. Several parties at the same site, for example the flats in an apartment building, share the solar power from their own roof. Towards the grid operator they count as a single customer; internally the power is metered and billed per party. ZEVs have existed since 2018. The virtual ZEV (vZEV) followed in 2025 and the local electricity community (LEG) in 2026.
This article answers those questions — honestly and with real numbers.
What is a ZEV? A clear definition
A Zusammenschluss zum Eigenverbrauch (ZEV — self-consumption group) is a legal arrangement in which multiple consumption units within a building or property jointly operate a solar system and distribute its electricity internally.
The key features:
Who can form a ZEV?
ZEV is not for everyone. The requirements are set out in the Energy Act and the Energy Ordinance:
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Own production | The solar system’s output must be at least 10 % of the group’s connection capacity (EnV Art. 15). |
| Same place of production | The plot with the system, plus adjacent plots as long as the power is used there without the distribution grid (EnV Art. 14). Since 2025 the connection line and grid connection point may also be shared (vZEV). |
| Several end consumers | At least two parties, for example flats, businesses or co-owners (EnG Art. 17) |
| Written agreement | At minimum: who represents the ZEV externally, how metering and billing work, and which electricity product is bought from outside (EnV Art. 16) |
| Notice to the grid operator | Formation, representative and participating tenants must be reported three months in advance (EnV Art. 18) |
| Internal metering | Each party needs its own meter so consumption can be billed (recommended: smart meter) |
ZEV system and diagram: how the power flows
A ZEV system has only a few building blocks. The key point is that the grid operator reads a single meter for the whole building, the main meter. Everything behind it is organised by the ZEV itself.
When the sun shines, the system supplies everyone in the building first. If solar is not enough, the rest comes from the grid through the main meter. If the system produces more than the building needs, the surplus flows out through the same meter and is paid for. No grid usage fee applies to solar power consumed internally, because it never touches the public grid.
How does ZEV billing work?
How much can a ZEV charge for solar power?
Since 1 January 2025 the Energy Ordinance sets out exactly what owners may charge tenants for internal solar power (EnV Art. 16b). There are two options:
| Method | Rule |
|---|---|
| Flat rate | At most 80 % of what the tenant would pay for the same amount of electricity without the ZEV |
| Actual costs | The system’s actual costs, minus feed-in revenue. Cap: 100 % of the price without the ZEV. If costs are below the cap, half of the difference may be added. |
Power bought from the grid is passed on at actual cost (EnV Art. 16a). The cost of setting up the ZEV is borne by the owner and may not be passed directly on to tenants (EnG Art. 17 para. 4).
A flat uses 2,500 kWh a year. Assume the solar system covers 1,000 kWh of that. As the price without the ZEV we use the ElCom median for 2026, 27.7 Rp./kWh; in practice the local grid operator’s tariff applies.
Solar power at the 80 % flat-rate cap: 1,000 kWh × 22.16 Rp. = CHF 221.60
Grid power at external cost: 1,500 kWh × 27.7 Rp. = CHF 415.50
Total with ZEV: CHF 637.10 instead of CHF 692.50 without, CHF 55.40 less per year.
For the owner, the same kilowatt-hour earns 22.16 Rp. instead of around 6 Rp. in feed-in payment. That is why a ZEV pays off most where a large share of the solar power is used in the building.
What does a ZEV cost? Setup and ROI
A Swiss ZEV (“self-consumption group”, Zusammenschluss zum Eigenverbrauch) means budgeting up-front setup—typically smart sub-meters, any electrical work, optional planning support, and PV if the building still needs a system—and ongoing costs, mainly internal billing (your time) or a billing provider so owners and tenants in an apartment building are settled correctly. The ranges below use 2026 Swiss benchmarks for typical ZEV projects; use them to sketch ROI, then confirm with quotes for your municipality. Note for landlords: setup costs may not be passed directly on to rents (EnG Art. 17 para. 4).
One-time costs
| Item | Typical cost in Switzerland |
|---|---|
| Sub-meter per unit (smart meter) | CHF 200–500 per unit |
| Electrician / cabling (if needed) | CHF 500–2,000 (building-dependent) |
| Consultation / design | CHF 500–1,500 (one-off) |
| PV system (if not yet installed) | CHF 1,200–1,700/kWp (incl. installation, Swissolar 2026) |
Ongoing costs
| Item | Cost per year |
|---|---|
| Billing admin (self-managed) | 10–20 hours |
| Billing service provider (e.g. UpGrid) | CHF 200–600/year (building-dependent) |
| PV system maintenance | CHF 100–300/year |
Pros and cons of a ZEV
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| No grid usage fee on solar power used in the building | The owner is responsible for supplying all participants (EnG Art. 17 para. 2) |
| More revenue per kWh than feed-in: up to 80 % of the local tariff as a flat rate instead of around 6 Rp. | Internal metering and billing take work, in-house or through a provider |
| A single customer towards the grid operator; from 100 MWh a year the free electricity market is open | Setup costs are the owner’s and may not be passed directly on to tenants |
| Tenants pay less for solar than for grid power when the flat rate is used | Limited to the place of production: whatever the building doesn’t use goes to the grid at the feed-in rate |
In short: a ZEV pays off when the building uses a large share of its solar power and someone reliably handles billing. If the system produces far more than the building needs, the LEG is the better complement.
vZEV: the next step beyond ZEV
The virtual self-consumption group, vZEV, has been permitted since 2025. At low voltage (below 1 kV), the connection lines and the shared grid connection point may now be used for self-consumption (EnV Art. 14 para. 3). This lets neighbouring buildings connected to the same distribution cabinet, for example, form a joint self-consumption group without new cables.
In plain terms: a vZEV works like a ZEV. Instead of a physical main meter, the grid operator adds up the readings of the participating connections into a virtual main meter. All other rights and obligations are the same as for a ZEV.
In practice, a vZEV is the stepping stone between ZEV (one building) and LEG (whole municipality). For many owners with several adjacent properties it’s the fastest way to use surplus from one building inside a second — without waiting for the wider LEG market. You can also combine both (vZEV internally, LEG for the rest). Full comparison: ZEV vs vZEV vs LEG →
ZEV, vZEV or LEG — which, when?
Honest framing: a ZEV is a good choice in one clearly defined situation. In others, there are better options.
"If your system produces more than your building consumes — or if you have neighbours in the municipality who want cheaper electricity — LEG is the stronger option."
ZEV vs LEG: side-by-side
The tool above walks through the trade-off in questions; the table below spells it out as criteria you can scan. What became broadly workable from January 2026 under LEG matters most when surplus electricity no longer stays inside the building.
| Criterion | ZEV | LEG |
|---|---|---|
| Who can participate | Residents of your building only | Any household or business in your municipality |
| What you earn per kWh | Up to 80 % of the local tariff (flat rate) | ~15 Rp. — but on a much larger buyer pool |
| What happens to surplus | Feed-in, 5.56 Rp./kWh on average in 2025 | Sold locally at ~15 Rp./kWh (55% absorbed) |
| PV system required | Yes — you must own one | Yes — but consumers can join without panels |
| Owner agreement needed | Yes — the property owners sign an agreement | No — individual units join independently |
| Grid discount for members | No grid fee on solar used in the building; grid power at the normal tariff | Yes — 20–40% grid fee reduction for consumers |
| Works across multiple buildings | No (vZEV does, with conditions) | Yes — entire municipality |
| Setup complexity | Medium — sub-meters, owner vote, billing | Low with UpGrid — one sign-off, we handle the rest |
The key difference in plain language: a ZEV is limited to your building’s demand. If your system produces 10,000 kWh and your building only absorbs 4,000 kWh internally, the remaining 6,000 kWh goes to the grid at the feed-in rate (5.56 Rp. on average in 2025, at least 6 Rp. for systems under 30 kW). In an LEG, those same 6,000 kWh reach neighbours who need them — at ~15 Rp.
The two models also aren’t mutually exclusive. An existing ZEV can join an LEG and contribute its surplus to the wider community, giving you the best of both: internal efficiency plus neighbourhood reach.
Choose ZEV if: your building has multiple units, PV already installed or planned, and owners are on board. Clean, simple, works today.
Choose LEG if: your system produces more than your building absorbs, you want to maximise income on surplus, or owners won’t all agree on a ZEV. UpGrid handles the full setup.
Do both if: you have a working ZEV and want to sell surplus beyond your building. The two stack.
ZEV for tenants
As a tenant, your position is different from an owner’s. The key points:
Municipalities can connect their own buildings, such as the town hall, schools and sports halls, in a LEG and share their own solar between them. Later, the community can be opened to residents.
Frequently asked questions about ZEV
Next steps
Interested in a ZEV — or want to know whether LEG is a better fit? UpGrid advises and operates both.
ZEV vs. LEG vs. vZEV — complete comparison of all three models →
ZEV, LEG or both —
we help you decide.
UpGrid advises and operates both models.