Background
#In the City of Zurich, ewz does not pay for exported solar power at the federal quarterly market price in 2026 but at fixed rates: 8.5 ct/kWh at peak times (Monday to Saturday, 6am to 10pm) and 4.45 ct/kWh off-peak, excluding VAT.
On top come a 2.00 ct/kWh city solar subsidy for electricity that is fed into the ewz grid rather than self-consumed, and 3.00 ct/kWh for guarantees of origin transferred to ewz by standing order. Together that is 13.5 ct/kWh at peak and 9.45 ct/kWh off-peak. The legal basis is the ordinance on remuneration for electricity fed back into the grid (VVRE), which the city parliament adopted on 1 April 2026 with retroactive effect from 1 January 2026.
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What drives the economics
#ewz pays fixed rates instead of a market price. The City of Zurich deliberately decided against the federal quarterly market price. Art. 2 VVRE sets 8.5 ct/kWh at peak times (Monday to Saturday, 6am to 10pm) and 4.45 ct/kWh off-peak. Summer quarters with low exchange prices therefore do not reduce the ewz payment.
The solar subsidy only applies to exported electricity. Art. 26a of the city ordinance on public-service obligations (VGL) grants 2.00 ct/kWh for solar power fed into the distribution grid and not used for self-consumption or within a ZEV. According to the city council’s proposal, this also covers solar power sold within a LEG via the distribution grid.
Guarantees of origin are a separate amount. ewz pays 3.00 ct/kWh for the ecological added value of solar systems, down from 5 centimes until the end of 2025. The system must be registered with Pronovo with a standing order to ewz set up and confirmed. Without this step, only energy and subsidy are paid.
The time of day matters. Most solar exports fall into the peak period; on Sundays and after 10pm the off-peak rate applies. The city cites an average of 12.91 ct/kWh including guarantees of origin for the previous model; for your own calculation, the actual share of Sunday exports is what counts.
Sources disagree on the off-peak rate. The press release of 17 December 2025 and one section of the council proposal state 4.55 ct/kWh. The ordinance adopted by the city parliament and the current ewz tariff sheet state 4.45 ct/kWh. The enacted text prevails, so 4.45 ct/kWh is used here.
A contract or LEG replaces the tariff. The VVRE does not apply where purchase is agreed by contract. In the LEG offer ewz.solarquartier, ewz states a total of 14 ct/kWh for producers. Small plug-in systems without a smart meter receive an annual flat rate of CHF 17 up to 450 W and CHF 23 up to 600 W.
The process in six steps
#Tick off for your project
Confirm the ewz area
the VVRE applies in the ewz distribution grid of the City of Zurich; the ewz tariff sheet lists the same rates for the ewz grid in Graubünden. Elsewhere, other operators such as EKZ or municipal utilities apply their own tariffs; the ElCom electricity price website shows the responsible operator.
Estimate exports by tariff period
calculate production, self-consumption and exports, and split exports into peak (Mon–Sat 6am–10pm) and off-peak. Both shares receive the 2.00 ct/kWh subsidy.
Set up guarantees of origin
register and certify the system with Pronovo, then set up and confirm the standing order to ewz. Only then are the 3.00 ct/kWh paid.
Check alternatives
in multi-occupancy buildings a ZEV or the ewz.solarsplit billing solution, in the neighbourhood a LEG via ewz.solarquartier. Self-consumption is usually worth more than exporting because it replaces grid electricity at the full price.
Check the settlement
ewz pays retroactively each quarter within 30 days of the invoice date. Check energy, subsidy and HKN separately; VAT-registered operators receive VAT on top.
Track changes
the VVRE has no end date, and any change requires a decision by the city parliament. Before investing, check the current version in the official compilation (AS 732.312) and the ewz tariff sheet.
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How much funding does your roof get?
With your address we calculate the one-off payment, your canton’s incentives, tax deduction and regional feed-in tariff for your system.
Free and non-binding · no unsolicited calls
Rather talk directly? +41 78 615 90 58
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.