Question 1

What is UPGRID?

Accepted Answer

UPGRID is a Swiss energy platform that connects local solar producers directly with consumers in their community. We enable peer-to-peer energy trading, allowing producers to earn more for their solar energy and consumers to buy clean, local electricity at fair prices.

Question 2

How does it work?

Accepted Answer

UPGRID creates local energy communities (LEG) where members can trade electricity directly. Solar producers sell their excess energy to nearby consumers through our platform, bypassing traditional utilities. We handle all the billing, metering, and administrative tasks.

Question 3

Who can join UPGRID?

Accepted Answer

Anyone in Switzerland can join! Whether you're a solar producer looking to earn more from your panels, a consumer wanting clean local energy, or a property owner interested in monetizing your roof space, UPGRID has options for you.

Question 4

How much does it cost to join?

Accepted Answer

Joining UPGRID varies by your role. Consumers typically pay competitive rates for electricity, while producers earn better rates than traditional feed-in tariffs. We offer transparent pricing with no hidden fees. Contact us for a personalized quote.

Question 5

What is a Local Energy Community (LEG)?

Accepted Answer

A LEG (Lokale Elektrizitätsgemeinschaft) is a legal framework in Switzerland that allows local groups to produce, consume, and trade electricity within their community. It's designed to promote renewable energy and energy independence at the local level. Learn how LEG compares to ZEV and VZEV.

Question 6

Do I need solar panels to join?

Accepted Answer

No! You can join as a consumer and buy clean energy from your neighbors. Read more about how solar works for renters. If you want to generate income from solar but don't have panels yet, we offer financing options or roof leasing programs where we install and manage the system for you.

Question 7

How much can I earn selling solar energy?

Accepted Answer

Earnings vary based on your system size and production, but UPGRID producers typically earn 20-40% more than traditional feed-in tariffs by selling directly to local consumers. Use our solar earnings calculator to estimate your returns. We provide transparent dashboards so you can track your production and earnings in real-time.

Question 8

Who handles maintenance and technical issues?

Accepted Answer

For systems we finance or install through roof leasing, UPGRID handles all maintenance. If you own your own solar system, you're responsible for maintenance, but we provide support and monitoring through our platform to help you maximize performance.

Question 9

Do I need to switch my electricity provider to participate?

Accepted Answer

No. You keep your current electricity provider and contract.Upgrid works as an add-on that connects part of your consumption to local solar energy from your community.Nothing changes in your daily setup.

Question 10

Do I need to install anything or change my meter?

Accepted Answer

No installation, no hardware, no technical changes.Upgrid connects you digitally to a local solar community using existing infrastructure.If you have electricity, you can join.

Question 11

Why is Upgrid cheaper?

Accepted Answer

Traditional electricity goes through multiple intermediaries before reaching you.Upgrid connects you directly to local solar producers, reducing costs and making pricing fairer for everyone in the community.You access locally produced energy at better rates than standard retail electricity.

Question 12

Is this already allowed in Switzerland?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Upgrid operates under current Swiss energy regulations from the 2026 Local Energy Community (LEG) framework.ZEV and vZEV structures already exist, and new legislation will expand local energy sharing across Switzerland.

Question 13

When does this start?

Accepted Answer

Community activations begin progressively through 2025–2026 depending on region and grid readiness.You can register now to secure priority access in your area as soon as your local community goes live.

Question 14

Is there a minimum contract or long commitment?

Accepted Answer

No long-term lock-ins.Contracts run in flexible periods and can be cancelled according to the agreed terms.You stay because it saves you money — not because you're forced to.

Question 15

What if there is not enough solar energy at some moments?

Accepted Answer

You will always have electricity.When local solar production is lower (night, winter, weather), your regular provider automatically supplies the remaining energy.Your supply is never interrupted.

Question 16

Who can join?

Accepted Answer

Homeowners, tenants, and businesses can join.If your building or area is eligible for a local energy community, Upgrid can connect you.You do not need to own solar panels.

Question 17

Do I need to install any additional hardware?

Accepted Answer

No.Upgrid works with your existing solar installation and meter infrastructure.There is no new hardware to install and no technical changes required to your system.

Question 18

How does Upgrid sell my energy?

Accepted Answer

Your production is automatically matched with local demand from nearby homes and businesses inside your energy community.Upgrid handles:allocation of your energypricing within the communitybilling and settlementYou do not need to manually sell or negotiate anything.

Question 19

How do I earn more than with traditional feed-in tariffs?

Accepted Answer

Traditional feed-in tariffs pay fixed, low rates for excess energy.Upgrid enables local community pricing where your energy is valued closer to real market rates.Because your electricity is consumed locally, it has higher value than surplus energy sent back to the grid.The same production.Higher return.

Question 20

Will I still be connected to the grid?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Always.Your grid connection remains unchanged.When local demand is available, your energy is prioritised inside the community.Any excess can still be fed into the grid according to your existing setup.Nothing is interrupted.

Question 21

Who sets the price of my energy?

Accepted Answer

Pricing is defined at the community level based on local energy models and Swiss regulatory frameworks.Upgrid ensures:transparent pricingcompetitive local ratesclear revenue visibilityYou can see exactly how your earnings are calculated in your dashboard.

Question 22

How and when do I get paid?

Accepted Answer

All billing and settlement is handled automatically by Upgrid.You will have access to:monthly revenue trackinginvoice historypayment statusfull transparency on earningsEverything is visible in your dashboard.

Question 23

Is this compliant with Swiss regulations?

Accepted Answer

Yes.Upgrid operates under current Swiss energy laws and upcoming LEG/vZEV frameworks.We handle:regulatory compliancecontract structurereportingintegration with grid providersYou remain fully compliant without extra administrative work.

Question 24

Do I have to commit long-term?

Accepted Answer

No rigid long-term lock-in.Contract terms are clear and transparent, with flexible participation depending on your community structure.You stay because it's more profitable — not because you're forced to.

Question 25

What types of producers can join?

Accepted Answer

Upgrid supports:residential solar ownerscommercial installationsindustrial solarmulti-site portfoliosIf you produce solar energy, you can monetise it through local energy communities.

Question 26

How do municipalities start a LEG?

Accepted Answer

Contact us for a free consultation—no commitment required. We'll discuss your energy goals and assess if LEG/vZEV is right for your municipality. If it's not a good fit, we'll tell you upfront. We handle everything from A to Z, so you don't have to worry about technical details.

Question 27

What are the costs for municipalities?

Accepted Answer

Most municipalities see ROI within 12-18 months. One municipality saves CHF 15,000+ annually—far exceeding our platform costs. During your free consultation, we'll provide a detailed cost breakdown based on your municipality's size and energy needs.

Question 28

How long does setup take?

Accepted Answer

Setup typically takes weeks, not months. We handle everything—no installation required. Most municipalities are up and running within 4-6 weeks of signing up.

Question 29

What support is provided?

Accepted Answer

We provide monthly optimization reports and 24/7 monitoring throughout your energy community's lifecycle. Your team spends less than 2 hours total. We're here to help maximize your municipality's energy potential.

Question 30

Legal and regulatory compliance?

Accepted Answer

We ensure full compliance with Swiss Energy Law (EnG) and LEG/vZEV regulations. Our platform is Swiss Energy Authority approved and handles all legal requirements, so you don't have to worry about compliance. We're Swiss-based and GDPR-compliant.

Question 31

How does LEG registration work?

Accepted Answer

Founding or joining a local energy community (LEG) involves several steps:1. Register – Sign up on our platform, tell us where you are located, whether you produce or consume electricity, and add your smart meter ID.2. Find a match – We match you with suitable participants in your area. A LEG requires members on the same grid level and connected to the same substation. We verify grid topology with your local distribution system operator (DSO).3. Join or wait – If an active community already exists in your region, you join it (typically 1–2 weeks until registration). If not enough participants have signed up yet, your registration goes on a waiting list until legal requirements are met (at minimum one producer and one consumer on the same substation).4. DSO registration – We submit the registration to your DSO. By law, the DSO has up to three months to put the LEG into operation.

Question 32

What is the status of my registration?

Accepted Answer

After you sign up, you can track your personal registration status at any time on app.upgrid.ch. The dashboard shows which step you are in — from contract completion through grid operator registration to activation.Signing up does not mean your LEG is registered immediately. The status reflects where you are in the process and what happens next.

Question 33

What is the status of my community?

Accepted Answer

Your community may be forming (still collecting members) or active (already registered with the grid operator). You can see the current community status in your dashboard on app.upgrid.ch.If a community shows pricing but is still forming, registration with the DSO happens once enough suitable participants have joined — not when you sign your contract.

Question 34

Why does activation take longer than expected?

Accepted Answer

Several factors can delay the start of a LEG:No suitable match yet – No fitting combination of producers and consumers in your municipality or grid topology yet.No LEG in your municipality yet – A new community must first meet minimum legal requirements.High DSO setup fees – Some grid operators still charge high one-off founding fees; we may wait where founding would be uneconomical.Smart meter pending – All participants need a smart meter; if one or more members do not have one yet, the DSO must install them first.Once submitted, the DSO legally has up to three months to commission the LEG.

Question 35

What can I do while I wait?

Accepted Answer

Check your status on app.upgrid.ch for next steps.Invite others – Share referral links from your dashboard to help your community reach the required size faster.Talk to your municipality – We are happy to help municipalities start an energy community.Book a consultation – Speak to our team if you have questions.For general inquiries contact info@upgrid.ch; for technical issues support@upgrid.ch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about UPGRID and local energy communities

General

Buying Energy

Selling Energy

Energy communities for municipalities

LEG Registration Process