Background
#Since 1 January 2026, grid operators pay the quarterly averaged reference market price for solar power fed into the grid, unless you have agreed otherwise.
In 2025 this price for photovoltaics ranged from 2.8 to 10.4 centimes per kilowatt hour depending on the quarter. Systems below 30 kW are entitled to at least 6 centimes. From 1 January 2027, the market price at the time of feed-in applies; if the reference market price is below the minimum, the difference is paid as a top-up.
What drives the economics
#Purchase obligation: grid operators must take power from renewable installations up to 3 MW or 5,000 MWh annual output and, if no agreement is reached, pay a Switzerland-wide harmonised price (Art. 15 paras. 1 and 2 EnG). Since 2026, this price equals the reference market price published quarterly by the SFOE (Art. 12 para. 1 EnV).
The reference market price varies strongly by season: for photovoltaics it was 10.38 (Q1), 2.76 (Q2), 5.73 (Q3) and 9.51 cts/kWh (Q4) in 2025, and 10.27 (Q1) and 3.90 cts/kWh (Q2) in 2026, all excluding VAT. It is lowest in summer, when solar systems deliver most.
Minimum remuneration for systems below 150 kW (Art. 12 para. 1bis EnV): 6 cts/kWh for all photovoltaic systems below 30 kW; for systems from 30 kW with self-consumption, pro rata 6 cts for the capacity below 30 kW and 0 cts for the rest; 6.2 cts/kWh for systems from 30 kW without self-consumption. There is no minimum from 150 kW.
From 1 January 2027, remuneration follows the market price at the time of feed-in, i.e. the day-ahead spot price (Art. 15 para. 1bis EnG, Art. 12 EnV as amended for 2027). If the quarterly reference market price is below the minimum, there is a claim to the difference. The minimum amounts themselves stay the same and move to Art. 12a EnV.
Transition: existing systems without a smart meter continue to be paid under the 2026 rule, at most until 31 December 2027 (Art. 80c EnV as amended for 2027).
Guarantees of origin (GOs) are not part of the statutory purchase price; grid operators can also buy and pay for them, and producers may sell them themselves. Systems with at most 30 kVA AC output are exempt from the obligation to record GOs (Art. 2 para. 2 let. c EnV).
The process in five steps
#Tick off for your project
Identify your grid operator
the ElCom electricity price website shows which operator supplies your municipality. The feed-in tariff itself is in that operator’s tariff sheet.
Read the tariff sheet
check whether the operator pays the reference market price or offers its own contractual price, and whether it pays extra for guarantees of origin. Higher agreed rates are permitted.
Calculate with quarterly prices
for a payback calculation, use an annual average rather than a peak quarter, with the minimum remuneration as the floor. The SFOE figures for the third quarter of 2026 are due on 14 October 2026.
Increase self-consumption
every kilowatt hour used yourself replaces grid power at the full purchase price instead of earning the feed-in tariff. Storage, a heat pump, a wallbox or a community with neighbours (ZEV, vZEV, LEG) shift the share.
Prepare for 2027
ask your grid operator when your smart meter will be installed – from then on, remuneration at the time of feed-in applies to existing systems as well.
Checked for your roof, not just read up on
Once the framing is clear, a property-specific check with roof, grid and documentation is worthwhile.
Frequently asked questions
#Sources
#The responsible authorities are decisive. Always verify binding details – amounts, deadlines and conditions – for your specific property against the current status of the respective authority.