Proprietary data
Data Center Power & Policy in Switzerland
Every government action on data centers and power in Switzerland that we have verified: moratoriums, grid rules, incentives, tariffs and plans, with the power indicators that drive site selection.
By Amit Jain
Reviewed by Deepti Agrawal
Updated 21 October 2026
In short
As of 21 October 2026, DC Market Insights tracks 12 government actions on data centers and power in Switzerland, 8 of them in force. We have found no moratorium or restriction on new data centers in force in Switzerland.
Market snapshot
Switzerland power and policy: key facts
- Industrial electricity price: 240 USD/MWh (2026). Rank 1 of 24 tracked countries, highest first.
- Renewable share of electricity generation: 70.8% (2025). Rank 5 of 35 tracked countries, highest first.
- Grid emission factor: 0.13 kgCO2/kWh (2022). Rank 23 of 29 tracked countries, highest first.
- Latest change: Swissgrid transmission tariffs cut to 1.2 Rp./kWh for 2027 (Swissgrid; ElCom, 8 Sep 2026).
- By type: 4 regulation, 2 power tariff, 2 renewable energy and 2 efficiency rule.
Power indicators for Switzerland
Latest official figure for each indicator, with earlier years where we have them.
In force now in Switzerland
Power tariff (1)
Electricity reserve (Stromreserve) surcharge 2026: 0.41 Rp./kWh
All consumers pay a per-kWh surcharge financing the federal electricity reserve for winter supply security (hydro reserve, reserve power plants, emergency generators), collected through Swissgrid. For 2026 ElCom reported the reserve cost at 0.41 Rp./kWh, up from 0.23 Rp./kWh in 2025, while Swissgrid cut its transmission tariff to 1.42 Rp./kWh. The surcharge applies to every kWh a data center draws from the grid.
0.41 Rp./kWh 2025: 0.23 Rp./kWh. Excl. VAT.
Renewable energy (2)
Mantelerlass second package: local electricity communities and minimum feed-in remuneration
The second ordinance package implementing the Federal Act on a Secure Electricity Supply with Renewable Energies was adopted on 19 February 2025 and took effect on 1 January 2026. It covers, among other things, local electricity communities (LEG), which let neighbouring producers and consumers share locally generated power over the public grid, and minimum remuneration for feed-in of renewable power.
Federal Act on a Secure Electricity Supply from Renewable Energy (Mantelerlass), first package
The Federal Act on a Secure Electricity Supply with Renewable Energies (adopted by Parliament 29 September 2023, approved by voters 9 June 2024) amends the Energy Act and the Electricity Supply Act. The Federal Council put it into force in stages; the first package of law changes and ordinances took effect on 1 January 2025, with implementing rules specified in several ordinances on 20 November 2024.
Efficiency rule (2)
Canton of Zurich waste heat rule: more than 2 GWh/yr of unused heat must be offered to third parties at cost
§ 30a para. 2 of Zurich's Special Building Ordinance I (BBV I, LS 700.21) requires that, for new buildings or after renewal of cooling plants, waste heat of more than two gigawatt hours per year that cannot be used on site must be made available to third parties at production cost. The cantonal government cites it as a rule to flag in building permits for data centers.
2 GWh/yr waste heat Date is that of the government reply RRB 20/2024 citing the rule; the rule's own adoption date was not confirmed from a primary source.
Canton of Zurich large consumer model (Grossverbrauchermodell, § 13a Energy Act)
In the canton of Zurich, sites using more than 0.5 GWh of electricity per year count as large consumers under § 13a of the cantonal Energy Act (EnerG, LS 730.1) and must enter an efficiency procedure, typically a target agreement after one to two years of measured operation. The cantonal government confirmed in January 2024 that data centers such as the Vantage campus in Winterthur-Neuhegi fall under the model; enforcement lies with the canton or the cities of Zurich and Winterthur.
0.5 GWh/yr electricity Threshold for large consumer status; date is that of the government reply RRB 20/2024 citing the rule.
Regulation (3)
Revised CO2 Ordinance for 2025-2030
On 2 April 2025 the Federal Council put the revised CO2 Ordinance into force, partly retroactively from 1 January 2025, implementing the revised CO2 Act for 2025-2030. It sets greenhouse gas reduction targets for the different sectors up to 2030 and includes support measures for companies using climate-friendly technologies.
Revised Federal Act on Data Protection (revFADP/nDSG)
The totally revised Federal Act on Data Protection (DSG), the Data Protection Ordinance (DSV) and the Ordinance on Data Protection Certification (VDSZ) took effect on 1 September 2023, as decided by the Federal Council on 31 August 2022. The law sets rules on processing and cross-border disclosure of personal data; the release does not set any data localization requirement.
Electricity Supply Act (StromVG): market access for sites using 100 MWh/yr or more
Under the Federal Electricity Supply Act (StromVG, SR 734.7) only households and other end users consuming less than 100 MWh per year per consumption site are captive customers in regulated basic supply. Sites at or above 100 MWh/yr, which includes any data center, may use grid access and buy power on the free market from any supplier; grid operators must grant third-party access without discrimination (Art. 13). Text as consolidated on 13 August 2026.
100 MWh/yr per consumption site Threshold below which end users are captive (feste Endverbraucher), Art. 6 para. 2 StromVG; Art. 13 para. 1 in force since 1 January 2009.
Announced and proposed
Measures that are not yet in force. Status changes when the rule takes effect or is withdrawn.
Swissgrid transmission tariffs cut to 1.2 Rp./kWh for 2027
Transmission grid costs passed on by the TSO Swissgrid fall to 1.2 Rp./kWh in 2027 from 1.42 Rp./kWh in 2026 (1.71 Rp./kWh in 2025), according to ElCom's annual tariff release. Distribution network tariffs set by local grid operators are a larger part of the bill for large consumers connected at medium voltage.
1.2 Rp./kWh 2026: 1.42 Rp./kWh.
Electricity reserve surcharge falls to 0.17 Rp./kWh for 2027
ElCom's 2027 tariff release (8 September 2026) reports that the electricity reserve cost drops to 0.17 Rp./kWh from 0.41 Rp./kWh in 2026. The median household price falls to 26.5 Rp./kWh, about 1.2 Rp./kWh below 2026, mainly on lower energy procurement costs, while the median grid tariff rises from 10.73 to 10.94 Rp./kWh.
0.17 Rp./kWh 2026: 0.41 Rp./kWh.
SFOE to step up monitoring of data center electricity use and efficiency
An SFOE/SwissEnergy study published 7 May 2026 puts Swiss data center electricity use at about 2.1 TWh in 2024, roughly 3.6% of national consumption, rising to 2.5-3.2 TWh by 2030 (up to 3.5 TWh in a high case). Remaining efficiency potential is estimated at about 0.8 TWh. The SFOE intends to monitor data center consumption and efficiency more closely in the coming years; no binding measures were announced.
2.1 TWh (2024 data center consumption) About 3.6% of total Swiss electricity consumption in 2024.
Full electricity market opening under the Switzerland-EU electricity agreement: basic-supply threshold set at 50 MWh
With the Switzerland-EU electricity agreement, all end consumers would be able to choose their supplier. On 28 January 2026 the Federal Council fixed the threshold for regulated basic supply at 50 MWh per year per household or consumption site; today only sites above 100 MWh/yr can choose freely. The agreement and implementing law still need parliamentary approval. Large consumers such as data centers already have market access, so the main effect is a wider competitive retail market.
50 MWh/yr per consumption site Proposed basic-supply threshold; current free-market threshold is 100 MWh/yr.
Timeline of data center and power policy in Switzerland
| Date | Action | Type | Status | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Sep 2026 | Swissgrid transmission tariffs cut to 1.2 Rp./kWh for 2027 | Grid access | Announced | Swissgrid; ElCom |
| 8 Sep 2026 | Electricity reserve surcharge falls to 0.17 Rp./kWh for 2027 | Power tariff | Announced | ElCom |
| 7 May 2026 | SFOE to step up monitoring of data center electricity use and efficiency | Plan or strategy | Announced | Swiss Federal Office of Energy (BFE/SFOE) |
| 28 Jan 2026 | Full electricity market opening under the Switzerland-EU electricity agreement: basic-supply threshold set at 50 MWh | Regulation | Proposed | Federal Council (UVEK, FDFA) |
| 9 Sep 2025 | Electricity reserve (Stromreserve) surcharge 2026: 0.41 Rp./kWh | Power tariff | In force | ElCom; Swissgrid |
| 2 Apr 2025 | Revised CO2 Ordinance for 2025-2030 | Regulation | In force | Federal Council; FOEN (BAFU) |
| 19 Feb 2025 | Mantelerlass second package: local electricity communities and minimum feed-in remuneration | Renewable energy | In force | Federal Council; SFOE (BFE) |
| 20 Nov 2024 | Federal Act on a Secure Electricity Supply from Renewable Energy (Mantelerlass), first package | Renewable energy | In force | Federal Council; SFOE (BFE) |
| 10 Jan 2024 | Canton of Zurich waste heat rule: more than 2 GWh/yr of unused heat must be offered to third parties at cost Zurich | Efficiency rule | In force | Canton of Zurich |
| 10 Jan 2024 | Canton of Zurich large consumer model (Grossverbrauchermodell, § 13a Energy Act) Zurich | Efficiency rule | In force | Canton of Zurich (Baudirektion; cities of Zurich and Winterthur) |
| 31 Aug 2022 | Revised Federal Act on Data Protection (revFADP/nDSG) | Regulation | In force | Federal Council; Federal Office of Justice; FDPIC |
| 23 Mar 2007 | Electricity Supply Act (StromVG): market access for sites using 100 MWh/yr or more | Regulation | In force | Federal Assembly; ElCom (regulator) |
How Switzerland compares
Latest official figures for the countries we track.
| Country | Industrial power price | Renewable share | Grid emission factor | Restrictions in force | Incentives in force |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | — | 19.6% (2025) | 0.28 kgCO2/kWh (2022) | 0 | 2 |
| Australia | — | 39% (2025) | — | 0 | 2 |
| Bangladesh | — | 2% (2025) | — | 0 | 0 |
| Belgium | 183 USD/MWh (2025) | 34.3% (2025) | 0.19 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 0 |
| Brazil | — | 86.8% (2025) | 0.07 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 1 |
| Canada | — | 63.9% (2024) | 0.10 kgCO2/kWh (2022) | 2 | 0 |
| Chile | — | 66% (2025) | 0.24 kgCO2/kWh (2023) | 0 | 0 |
| Colombia | — | — | 0.22 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 2 |
| Denmark | 134 USD/MWh (2025) | 81.5% (2024) | 0.11 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 1 | 0 |
| Ecuador | — | — | 0.16 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 1 | 0 |
| Finland | 58.4 USD/MWh (2025) | 57% (2024) | 0.03 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 0 |
| France | 104 USD/MWh (2025) | 27% (2025) | 0.02 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 1 |
| Germany | 180 USD/MWh (2025) | 58.8% (2025) | 0.34 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 1 | 0 |
| Guatemala | 84.5 USD/MWh (2025) | 53.5% (2024) | 0.29 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 2 |
| India | 82.1 USD/MWh (2025) | 28.7% (2026) | 0.68 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 5 |
| Indonesia | 62.9 USD/MWh (2024) | 16.3% (2025) | 0.68 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 1 |
| Ireland | 234 USD/MWh (2025) | 41.3% (2024) | 0.20 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 2 | 0 |
| Italy | 184 USD/MWh (2025) | 48% (2025) | 0.20 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 0 |
| Japan | — | 23.1% (2024) | 0.45 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 0 |
| Kazakhstan | — | 14.6% (2025) | 0.81 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 0 |
| Kyrgyzstan | 41.7 USD/MWh (2026) | 88% (2024) | 0.16 kgCO2/kWh (2019) | 1 | 1 |
| Luxembourg | 165 USD/MWh (2025) | 23.3% (2025) | — | 0 | 0 |
| Malaysia | 105 USD/MWh (2026) | 21% (2025) | 0.74 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 1 | 1 |
| Mexico | — | — | 0.44 kgCO2/kWh (2023) | 0 | 0 |
| Nepal | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Netherlands | 148 USD/MWh (2025) | 49% (2025) | 0.20 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 4 | 0 |
| Pakistan | 97.5 USD/MWh (2026) | 34.7% (2025) | — | 0 | 1 |
| Panama | 66.3 USD/MWh (2025) | 74.7% (2025) | 0.15 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 1 |
| Peru | — | 62.6% (2025) | — | 0 | 1 |
| Russia | — | 17.6% (2025) | — | 2 | 0 |
| Singapore | 189 USD/MWh (2025) | 2.1% (2024) | 0.40 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 0 |
| South Korea | — | 9.8% (2025) | — | 0 | 0 |
| Spain | 113 USD/MWh (2025) | 55.5% (2025) | — | 0 | 0 |
| Sri Lanka | — | 60.2% (2025) | — | 0 | 0 |
| Sweden | 78.5 USD/MWh (2025) | — | 0.06 kgCO2/kWh (2023) | 0 | 0 |
| Switzerland | 240 USD/MWh (2026) | 70.8% (2025) | 0.13 kgCO2/kWh (2022) | 0 | 0 |
| United Arab Emirates | 120 USD/MWh (2026) | 8.8% (2024) | 0.47 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 0 |
| United Kingdom | 234 USD/MWh (2026) | 52.1% (2025) | 0.15 kgCO2/kWh (2026) | 1 | 1 |
| United States | 86.2 USD/MWh (2025) | 24% (2025) | 0.35 kgCO2/kWh (2023) | 0 | 1 |
| Uzbekistan | 83.3 USD/MWh (2026) | 19.4% (2025) | — | 1 | 0 |
Questions
Is there a data center moratorium in Switzerland?
We have found no moratorium or restriction on new data centers in force in Switzerland as of 21 October 2026. Proposed or announced measures, if any, are listed in the timeline.
What does electricity cost for data centers in Switzerland?
The industrial electricity price in Switzerland was 240 USD/MWh in 2026 (ElCom national median total price 2026, category C7 (large business, 7,500,000 kWh/yr, max 1,630 kW, medium voltage, own transformer), standard product in basic supply: 19.6245 Rp./kWh = 196.245 CHF/MWh (energy 11.15, grid usage 5.404, federal levies 0.57). Data center contracts can differ by voltage level, contract length and location.
How much of Switzerland’s electricity is renewable?
Renewables supplied 70.8% of electricity generation in Switzerland in 2025.
Where does this data come from?
Each action comes from a page we opened: a law, regulation, gazette notice, ministry or regulator release, grid operator notice or investment agency page, and only when official text is not available a company or trade publication. A second analyst re-opens the source before an item is published. Government sources are linked on the page; all sources come with the Excel data.
What counts as a restriction or moratorium?
A government or grid operator rule that stops, pauses, caps or conditions new data center capacity or grid connections, for a country or a region within it. Proposals are shown as proposed until they take effect.
How are power prices compared?
We use each country’s official statistics for industrial or non-household electricity, converted to US dollars per MWh at the average rate for the year where needed, and show the year and source. Contract prices for data centers can differ.
How often is it updated?
Countries are reviewed on a rolling schedule and changes are added as they are announced. Each item shows the date of the action.
Global capacity
How much data center capacity is installed worldwide?
Installed and forecast capacity in MW by region and country, 2020 to 2035, with low, base and high cases. Updated every quarter.
Choosing a market or a site?
Our analysts prepare country briefings on power, grid access, incentives and permits, with every source, in Excel.