"All installations of transmission, railway power-supply and distribution networks with a voltage exceeding 1 kV will henceforth be of national interest," says Jan Flückiger, head of public affairs at AES.
When the Federal Council presented, in May 2025, the project to “accelerate the expansion and modernization of electrical networks,” called “Netzexpress,” it focused primarily on simplifying procedures related to the transmission network. The Swiss Association of Electricity Companies (AES) has consistently supported this objective, while pointing out from the outset that the challenges related to decarbonization, decentralization and digitalization concern the distribution network just as much, if not more.
Fortunately, Parliament took note of this and gradually incorporated concerns related to the distribution network into the bill. A relatively comprehensive law was thus able to be adopted at the end of the autumn session. The main provisions concerning the transmission network are still included, notably the principle of overhead lines and the possibility of more simply replacing existing extra-high-voltage lines along their current route, without going through a cumbersome sectoral planning procedure.
In the future, both very-high-voltage and high-voltage lines may benefit from a simplified replacement procedure along their existing route or in the immediate vicinity thereof, provided that no peat bog, peatland landscape, habitat or area of national importance for bird protection is affected.
These provisions should therefore facilitate the realization of projects in cases of conflicting interests.
That brings us to an important point that still plays a role in construction projects: the balancing of interests. In addition to the protection of the zones mentioned above, other public interests may oppose the construction of an electrical line or a substation.
Parliament has taken a clear position on this: all installations of transmission networks, railway power supply and distribution with a voltage above 1 kV – that is to say all installations except those of the low-voltage network – will henceforth fall under “national interest”.
The interest linked to their realization will furthermore take precedence “in principle” over other national interests. This primacy will not apply, however, when the protected zones mentioned above are concerned. These provisions should therefore facilitate the realization of projects in cases of conflicting interests. A balancing of interests will nevertheless remain necessary on a case-by-case basis.
The project also brings very concrete improvements for the construction of battery storage systems and substations. Energy storage systems located outside the building zone, including large batteries, are now considered site-specific when they meet clearly defined criteria. They can thus be authorized.
These criteria include immediate proximity to existing infrastructure and a technically and economically optimized integration into the existing electricity grid. Substations located outside the building zone are also now considered site-specific, provided that no overriding interest opposes them and that they serve to supply buildings and installations located mainly outside the building zone.
This is the case, for example, for connecting a large photovoltaic installation within a farm in an agricultural zone. If the substation mainly serves buildings and installations located inside the building zone, for example on the edge of a densely populated residential area, it is not regarded as “site-specific” but simply as “authorized”.
Overall, Parliament has thus adopted a good law which, hopefully, will produce the expected acceleration effects in practice.
The administration nevertheless assured that the conditions set out in the law are sufficient to authorize construction, which the spokespeople of the commission confirmed to the National Council. In particular, it must be proven that no suitable site could be found within the building zone without resorting to expropriation.
Parliament also adopted an important simplification in the field of medium voltage: in uncontested cases, when lines are laid as underground cables and no protected area is affected, a retrospective authorization will now suffice.
This procedure, applied for a long time to low voltage, has proven itself and is widely accepted. This point remained controversial until the end of the debates. The compromise ultimately adopted consists of introducing this simplification while excluding from its scope substations located outside the building zone.
Overall, Parliament has thus adopted a good law which, hopefully, will produce the expected acceleration effects in practice. The next step will be to support, as part of the consultation, the development of the necessary regulatory adaptations.
Finally, it will be necessary to monitor how the competent authorities apply the new provisions. Admittedly, many challenges remain to be met, but an important step has been taken towards a sustainable grid and a safe, clean and affordable electricity supply.
This article has been automatically translated using AI. If you notice any errors, please don't hesitate to contact us.
"Each electric car in circulation reduces exposure to the volatility of oil markets," affirms Euam Graham in a report published by the think tank Ember.
"Initiatives like Swiss Impact & Prosperity show that, beyond growth, an economy's ability to create sustainable value and to preserve its resources is also becoming a performance indicator," explains Simone Pedrazzini, CEO of Earth Action.
"Members of the 'Swiss Electricity Agreement Alliance' will closely monitor parliamentary debates and provide factual information about the agreement," summarizes Annalisa Job, communications manager for the Association of Swiss Electricity Companies (AES).
"By constantly looking at the surfaces that could still accommodate solar installations, we may be overlooking one possibility: roofs that are already equipped," points out Alban Bitz, director of SI-REN.
Already a member or subscriber? Simply enter your email address to receive instant access to the article. Enjoy!