Renewable energies drive long-term strategy
The Zurich Cantonal Electricity Works (EKZ) generated a profit of CHF 186.3 million in the 2024/25 financial year. The 25 per cent increase is primarily attributable to its holdings in Axpo and Repower. Operating profit fell by 65 per cent to CHF 18.8 million.
The Zurich Cantonal Electricity Works (EKZ) has had a challenging financial year in 2024/25. According to the annual report, total output fell by only 4.2 per cent to 1,176.4 million Swiss francs. However, operating profit before interest and taxes fell by 64.9 per cent to 18.8 million.
Nevertheless, profits rose by 24.9 per cent to CHF 186.3 million. According to astatement, this is a result of the company’s investments in the electricity producer Axpo and the Graubünden cantonal utility Repower. The canton and the municipalities with a stake in EKZ will receive a distribution of CHF 46.6 million, around CHF 9 million more than in the previous year.
The decline in operating income is partly due to the drop in electricity production in Germany and France. Wind power production fell by 14.9 per cent to 517.9 gigawatt hours, while solar power production from photovoltaics fell by 11.5 per cent to 253.2 gigawatt hours.
EKZ has continued to invest in the expansion of renewable energies in Switzerland. The Madrisa Solar plant in Klosters GR was partially connected to the grid. In Embrach ZH, construction began on the solar plant on the roofs of Embraport. In addition, 4,886 new private solar plants with a total output of 100.5 megawatts were connected to the grid. In the previous year, there were 3,839 systems with 77.7 megawatts. In addition, around 17,500 parking spaces in underground car parks were equipped with EKZ’s charging management system.
Urs Rengel speaks of a strong annual result. “Uncontrollable fluctuations due to weather, prices, demand and market developments are part of today’s energy system and are likely to continue to increase significantly, both to the benefit and detriment of EKZ,” the EKZ CEO is quoted as saying in the press release. “Investments in production facilities have a long time horizon and we are convinced that they will make a valuable contribution in the long term.”