📋 Tender Overview
At its meeting on November 13, 2024, the Federal Council approved the report Energy waste during operation without benefit in fulfillment of postulate 21.4561. The report shows how much electricity is wasted in Switzerland through the operation of systems and devices without benefit and how these electricity losses can be reduced.
The focus of the report is on electricity consumption. Other energy sources or gray energy were not taken into account. Electricity consumption in households, as well as in the service and industrial sectors (excluding mobility and agriculture) was analyzed. The postulate report is based on the basic report Electricity waste due to operation without benefit, which EBP Schweiz AG prepared on behalf of the Federal Office of Energy. Definition During operation without benefit, systems or devices consume almost as much energy as at full load, but without generating any relevant benefit. For example, when the lighting or ventilation is switched on even though no one is present. This is where energy is consumed unnecessarily. Considerable losses Quantifying the electricity losses due to unused operation is very difficult.
Reliable data shows that in Switzerland at least 4.3 terawatt hours (TWh) are lost every year in households (1.8 TWh), service companies (1.8 TWh) and industrial companies (0.7 TWh) due to unused operation. This corresponds to around 8 percent of the total electricity consumption of these three sectors. In reality, however, the electricity loss is likely to be much higher: the report estimates it at a total of 6 to 7 TWh per year. For comparison: all solar systems in Switzerland produced a total of around 4.7 TWh of electricity from January to August 2024. There is therefore considerable energy saving potential in reducing unused operation, for example in lighting, electric heating, air conditioning and ventilation technology, or information, communication and entertainment technology systems and devices. The reasons for the high losses are a lack of knowledge among consumers, but also technical or financial obstacles. These obstacles can be addressed with more information, financial incentives, technical innovations or regulatory adjustments. Measures Several existing measures support the goal of reducing useless electricity consumption. For example, the federal regulations on the energy efficiency of devices and systems. For new devices, these stipulate not only low standby consumption but also an automatic switchover to standby or off mode.
The cantonal large-scale consumer articles and the financial incentives through target agreements to reduce energy consumption are also aimed at such operational optimization in companies. In the areas of energy advice, information and training and further education, EnergieSchweiz, the federal governments program for energy efficiency, is helping to reduce useless operation. In the future, the smart meter rollout, which will run until 2027, will offer an opportunity to raise awareness among households and small companies about reducing energy losses during useless operation through new services. This operational optimization can also be addressed by the electricity supply companies as part of the new efficiency obligations for electricity suppliers. From the Federal Councils point of view, there is currently no need for legislative changes or new instruments at the federal level.
