Short answer
What you need to know first.
For a PV system in Thurgau, the grid connection should be clarified before the final quote: responsible grid operator, connection request, possible grid reinforcement, metering scheme, feed-in, battery operation and meter replacement. Commissioning is only cleanly completed when electrical inspection, documentation for grid operator and owner, and the data for Pronovo and guarantees of origin all align.
Important
This page is general guidance and does not replace property-specific electrical, grid-connection, incentive or legal advice. The concrete process in Thurgau depends on the location, responsible distribution grid operator, connection capacity, metering concept, battery, self-consumption model and current requirements of the responsible bodies.
Decision points
What determines the right path.
The location determines the grid operator. In Thurgau there is not one single process for every property; connection request, portal, meter process and feed-in tariff depend on the responsible distribution grid operator. The grid-operator assignment therefore belongs at the start of planning, not at the end of installation.
The connection request is a technical check, not a formality. The grid operator assesses whether the building connection and grid can accept the planned feed-in and whether adaptations are needed. Relevant points include system size, inverter, battery, feed-in power, existing connection and chosen metering concept.
Metering concept and self-consumption must be defined before installation. Simple self-consumption, battery, heat pump, wallbox, ZEV-like models or commercial loads change meter arrangement, control and billing. Leaving these questions open often results in a system that works electrically but fits the building poorly in operation.
Safety certificate and commissioning data are part of handover. ESTI notes that electrical PV installations are subject to inspection. For owners, it therefore matters not only that modules produce power, but that measurement and test records, safety certificate, diagrams, system data and photo documentation are complete.
Pronovo and the grid operator serve different purposes. Grid registration covers connection, metering and operation on the distribution grid; Pronovo documents concern one-time remuneration and guarantees of origin. Energy Switzerland states that small PV systems must already be installed before the one-time remuneration application can be submitted. Both must be coordinated, but they are not the same thing.
Sequence
How the project stays cleanly managed.
- 1
Assign property and grid operatorrecord location, building connection, existing meters, consumption profile and planned loads. This clarifies which distribution grid operator is responsible and which forms or portals apply for the connection request.
- 2
Prepare the technical connection requestcompile system size, inverter data, feed-in power, battery option, single-line diagram and metering concept. These data should be checked before final material ordering because grid-operator feedback can influence the design.
- 3
Coordinate roof, electrical work and meteringalign installation planning, cable routing, inverter location, AC connection, meter board, battery and load management. Especially in existing buildings, this coordination determines whether commissioning succeeds without temporary solutions.
- 4
Carry out installation and inspectionafter installation come electrical testing, measurement and test records, safety certificate and the documentation required for grid operator and owner. Feed-in and remuneration should only be considered complete once the metering and meter process has been aligned.
- 5
Complete Pronovo and HKN dataafter commissioning, the required system data, evidence and authorisations for one-time remuneration and guarantees of origin are bundled cleanly. If the installer is authorised, it should be documented who checks which entries.
- 6
Monitor operation and secure responsibilitiesmonitoring, feed-in billing, self-consumption, faults and later extensions belong in the handover. Owners should know who is responsible for grid-operator questions, inverter messages, battery issues or document requests.
Checklist
Questions to settle before the quote.
- Clarify the responsible distribution grid operator and connection route before the quote
- Plan metering concept, feed-in, battery and meter replacement together
- Complete commissioning only with full electrical and system documentation
- Do not confuse the Pronovo application and HKN data with grid registration
FAQ
Common questions on this topic.
Sources
Official sources & references.
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.