The Swiss government is setting up a gas sector crisis intervention group and a monitoring system for early detection of an impending electricity shortage, it said on Wednesday, as it prepares for the possibility of “severe” power shortages.
The Swiss government began drawing up plans in April for a potential gas shortage in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, saying measures were being developed ranging from appealing to the public to reduce consumption to possible power rationing in the event of a crunch.
It has now tasked national grid operator Swissgrid with developing and operating a new monitoring system to observe developments in electricity supply, which it said is to go live by end-2022.
“The monitoring system is to provide information on the current supply and market situation in Switzerland as well as analyses of self-supply,” the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research said in a statement.
“In particular, it is intended to show how long Switzerland could secure its electricity supply without electricity imports.”
The government also tasked the country’s gas industry association, VSG, with forming a new crisis intervention organisation. It was also looking at other alternatives due to reservations expressed in consultations regarding the association’s independence and a lack of regulation over the gas market.
“Against the background of the Ukraine war and the associated uncertain supply situation, the Federal Council is now nevertheless entrusting the VSG with the task of forming a (crisis intervention organisation) for a limited period of one year,” the government said.
“In order to take account of the reservations expressed in the consultation process, the inclusion of gas consumer representatives (in the crisis intervention organisation) is stipulated and the mandate is limited to one year.”
