Bern Cuts Electricity Costs and Tests New Load Management Measures

For households on BKW’s basic service plan, electricity will become even more affordable in 2027. According to the company, for an annual consumption of 4,500 kilowatt-hours, the bill will decrease by about 95 francs per year. At the same time, a voluntary grid tariff will be introduced, offering discounts on sunny afternoons and allowing customers to manage their electricity usage over time.

This move comes during a rate year characterized by declining grid costs throughout Switzerland. Basic service rates must be published by the end of August each year, take effect on January 1 of the following year, and remain fixed for the duration of the year. For property owners, property management companies, and tenant households, this makes it easier to plan for the announced cost relief.

At BKW, the calculation is based on a standard profile with an annual consumption of 4,500 kilowatt-hours in a five-room apartment equipped with an electric stove and a tumble dryer. According to the current rate notice, this results in a savings of approximately 7.90 francs per month, or about 95 francs per year. The actual amount of the relief depends on individual consumption.

Discount During Solar Peaks
Starting January 1, 2027, BKW will also introduce a voluntary dynamic grid usage tariff. During the summer months, customers will benefit from a discount on sunny afternoons. The mechanism aims to shift consumption to hours with high photovoltaic production and to utilize the grid more efficiently during these periods.

For the real estate sector, this is more than just a rate announcement. In residential buildings equipped with heat pumps, electric water heaters, charging infrastructure, or collectively controlled household appliances, there is a direct incentive to shift flexible loads to different times. Especially for properties with self-consumption models, smart meters, and digital building technology, such a tariff can transform operational management.

Grid Costs Are Falling According
The tailwind is also coming from the higher-level grid. Swissgrid has once again announced lower rates for 2027. A four-person household with an annual consumption of 4,500 kilowatt-hours is expected to pay around 54 francs for Swissgrid’s services, down from 64 francs in 2026. At the same time, ElCom points out that households consuming less than 100,000 kilowatt-hours generally remain on the basic service plan and cannot switch tariffs during the year.

It remains to be seen to what extent customers will actually take advantage of the new dynamic rate. For professional property owners and managers, this becomes a practical issue, as savings will come not only from lower energy prices but increasingly from controllable consumption within the building.