The first local energy
communities go live.
What actually happens now?
Registration opened in January. Since April, the first communities can actually start trading solar electricity locally. If you're already registered — or thinking about it — here's what to expect: your first bill, what the 40% discount looks like in real francs, and what happens when the sun isn't shining.
On 1 January 2026, registration opened. But "registration open" didn't mean "electricity flowing." Swiss law mandates a three-month setup period — time to install smart meters, validate metering concepts, set up billing systems. Only now, in April, can the very first communities actually trade local solar electricity under the LEG framework.
That's not a bureaucratic footnote. It's the moment you've been waiting for.
How the launch works — step by step
Before the first solar electricity flows through a LEG, several things happen behind the scenes. Not complicated — but worth understanding so you know why the three months are necessary.
Two bills instead of one — what you need to know
Here's the thing that surprises most people: joining a LEG doesn't change who sends your grid bill. You stay a customer of your grid operator. What changes: a second bill arrives — from Upgrid — for the solar electricity from your community.
Your grid operator bills for network usage, metering and residual electricity supply. Upgrid bills for the LEG solar electricity. Both together make up your actual electricity costs — and the combined total is lower than before, because the grid discount and cheaper LEG price more than cover the difference.
What the grid discount actually means in real francs
40% grid discount sounds good. But 40% of what? This is rarely explained clearly — and it can be confusing when you look at what your electricity bill actually contains. Here it is concretely.
The discount applies exclusively to the grid usage fee — and only on the share of electricity you actually draw from the LEG. Not on the energy component, not on levies, not on Swissgrid charges. Only on the grid portion of your local electricity. Based on ElCom 2026 tariff data, this grid component is 10.75 Rp./kWh at the Swiss median.
What happens when the sun isn't shining?
This is the question everyone asks. And it's a fair one.
A LEG is not an island grid. You are and remain connected to the public electricity network. When your community isn't producing solar electricity — at night, in rain, in winter — you automatically draw grid electricity from your operator. At the regular tariff. With no interruption, no switching, nothing you need to do.
“The sun provides the savings. The grid provides the security. Both at the same time.”
Who manages what — and who is responsible for what?
In a LEG there are several actors. Here's the clear breakdown:
| Task | Grid operator | Upgrid (LEG operator) |
|---|---|---|
| Grid connection & supply security | ✓ | – |
| Smart meter installation & operation | ✓ | – |
| Grid usage & residual supply billing | ✓ | – |
| Calculating the grid discount (40% / 20%) | ✓ | – |
| Solar electricity allocation in 15-min intervals | – | ✓ |
| Issuing the LEG bill | – | ✓ |
| Paying out producer compensation | – | ✓ |
| Member list & new member onboarding | – | ✓ |
As an Upgrid LEG member, you don't have to deal with any of this. That's the point. You receive two bills — and the combined total is lower than before. Wondering how a LEG compares to other community models like ZEV or VZEV? See our detailed comparison of ZEV, LEG, and VZEV.
40% or 20% grid discount — what determines it?
Not every community gets 40%. The discount depends on the grid topology — specifically how many transformer stations the electricity passes through within the LEG.
40% discount: All members are connected to the same transformer station — electricity flows on a single grid level.
20% discount: Multiple transformer stations are involved — the electricity crosses an additional grid level.
You don't need to figure this out yourself. Upgrid checks the grid topology before registration and communicates clearly which discount applies to your community. Many buildings in urban areas get 40% — because neighbours often share the same transformer station.
The most common questions — answered
What this looks like in practice — a real example
Take a family of four in Baar (Canton Zug), 5-room flat, annual consumption around 5,500 kWh. They're part of a LEG with 12 households and one producer with a 15 kW installation on the roof of the same building. All connected to the same transformer station: 40% grid discount.
Example calculation. Basis: Zug grid tariff 23.01 Rp./kWh (ElCom median 2026), grid component 10.75 Rp./kWh (CH median). LEG electricity price assumed at ~10 Rp./kWh. Individual savings depend on grid operator, production share and specific grid topology.
What comes next — for the LEG movement in Switzerland
April 2026 is not an ending. It's a beginning. The first communities starting now are pioneers — their billing data, their experiences, their questions shape how the system works for everyone who follows.
Swissolar is pushing politically to unlock the maximum legally permitted grid discount of 60% — currently it's 40% or 20%. For solar producers, the LEG also means significantly higher revenue compared to feed-in tariffs. The more LEGs are active, the more data shows that local consumption genuinely relieves grid pressure, the stronger the argument becomes. Every community that starts now makes the next one easier.
Already registered? Upgrid will contact you directly about your activation date and first bill — no follow-up needed.
Not yet registered? Registration is open. Sign up now and your earliest start is July 2026. Calculate your savings in 30 seconds — link below.
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