Electricity cannot be stored. So while the Swiss population consumes less, the excess electricity is exported abroad. This especially benefits the power companies. In summer, Switzerland does not need as much electricity as it produces. It exports surplus abroad. In summer, Switzerland does not need as much electricity as it produces. It exports surplus abroad. Even during energy saving time. «We are in a difficult situation. And with the savings campaign, we say: the population can help too, » said Federal Councilor Simonetta Somaruga (62) in a recent interview with Blick. While the population pulls the plug at night, Switzerland continues to sell electricity abroad. As “Handelszeitung” writes, the kilowatt hours that are saved today may not even be saved for the winter. Electricity cannot be stored. Alpine reservoirs do not have enough space for all the water that flows into the lake until winter. The lakes are already well filled, with no more room for all the rain and meltwater. So the turbines have to keep running. The electricity that Switzerland now saves is sold at a good price.
According to a spokesman for the Federal Office of Energy SFOE, it will provide an important service to neighboring countries, which, thanks to our electricity, will have to use less gas electricity. Gas storage tanks can in turn be filled with gas saved for the winter. “Finally, it also benefits Switzerland, so that gas reserves obtained in foreign storage facilities actually come to the country in winter,” the spokesperson continued. At the same time, there was also talk of making people aware about the measures of austerity in the early stages, for which time is needed. Power companies benefit from saving early. Prices on the electricity market are currently high, so selling excess electricity is profitable. According to the “Handelszeitung”, a surplus of 3000 MW in an evening time is about 1.6 million francs.