Electricity consumption in Switzerland increased by 4% in 2010 to 59.8 billion kilowatt hours (kWh). Domestic power plants generated 66.3 billion kWh, or 0.4% less electricity than in 2009. With imports at 66.8 billion kWh and exports of 66.3 billion kWh, an excess of imports in electricity was recorded in 2010, as in the years 2005 and 2006.

Walter Steinmann, Director of the Federal Office of Energy, will head a 25-member Swiss delegation that will participate in the International World Future Energy Summit 2011 from 17-20 January 2011 in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates).

Switzerland's overall energy consumption in 2009 fell by 2.5% compared to 2008. The main reasons for the fall in consumption were the warmer weather and the weak economy.

Electricity consumption in Switzerland declined by 2.1% in 2009 to 57.5 billion kilowatt hours (kWh). Domestic power plants generated 66.5 billion kWh, or 0.7% less electricity than in 2008. An export surplus of 2.2 billion kWh was achieved in comparison with 2008 with imports of 52.0 billion kWh and exports of 54.2 billion kWh.

Walter Steinmann, Director of the Federal Office of Energy, travels to Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) for a three-day working visit on January 16, 2010. He will participate in the international World Future Energy Summit 2010 where he represents Switzerland at a round-table discussion attended by energy ministers.

From 1 January 2010, the Federal Office of Communications will take up from the Federal Office of Energy the responsibility for the enforcement of the Ordinance on Electromagnetic Compatibility (OEMC). OFCOM will therefore be responsible for issues relating to interference due to electromagnetic fields. Today the Federal Council gave the green light for this transfer. It also approved the complete revision of the ordinance to harmonise it with the European legislation.

Swiss electricity consumers will continue to pay a surcharge of 0.45 cents per kilowatt hour of electricity in 2010 to fund the production of green energy, the Federal Office of Energy announced today.

Electricity consumption in Switzerland increased by 2.3% in 2008 to 58.7 billion kilowatt hours (kWh), a new record for electricity consumption in one year.

In the 2009 March session, Parliament agreed to the second stabilisation programme put forward by the Swiss Federal Council in support of the Swiss economy. To this end, it has approved additional credit totalling 710 million francs for 2009, 60 million of which will flow into three support programmes in the energy sector.

The subsidisation fund for green electricity has run dry. There have been so many registrations for compensatory feed-in remuneration (KEV) since May 2008 that the total cost ceiling for KEV has been reached.