Stakeholder Management at Swissgrid
Swissgrid engages in active relationship management and dialogue with the public, the media, politicians, authorities, associations, industry partners and neighbouring transmission system operators.
Swissgrid uses various in-house platforms for networking. These are tailored to the specific needs of stakeholders, and include personal discussions, digital channels, media work, industry gatherings and information events in regions where Swissgrid is implementing grid projects. Options for collaboration with partners and references on third-party platforms are systematically examined.
The transmission system is one of Switzerland’s most critical infrastructures and makes a significant contribution to a functioning society and economy. Swissgrid communicates with the public, the economy, politicians and authorities to keep them informed about its tasks and the challenges it faces. Swissgrid sees itself as a provider of knowledge and a trustworthy source of information.
The further development of stakeholder dialogue was incorporated into Strategy 2027. Swissgrid intends to invest even more in its relationships with stakeholders in the future. Swissgrid considers it particularly important to raise awareness of the need for good cooperation with European partners and for regulatory action in Switzerland. Further priorities will be set in this area in the future.
Overview of the relevant stakeholder groups
An overview of the stakeholder groups relevant to Swissgrid is given below. Swissgrid maintains active, process-driven dialogue with these stakeholder groups.
| Employees | Swissgrid’s employees are of vital importance for the successful fulfilment of its legal mandate |
| Electricity sector | Owners and operators of grid and power plant facilities, Swissgrid’s grid users, shareholders and market players |
| Politics | National, cantonal and municipal decision-makers |
| Authorities | National, cantonal and municipal offices and supervisory authorities such as the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) or the Federal Inspectorate for Heavy Current Installations (ESTI) |
| Associations | Associations that are directly or indirectly active in the Swiss energy sector, such as the Association of Swiss Electricity Companies (VSE) Environmental organisations that Swissgrid liaises with on issues such as grid projects |
| Regulator | The Federal Electricity Commission (ElCom) monitors Swissgrid’s costs and tariffs |
| Finances | Creditors, lenders, investors and insurance companies |
| Research and development (R&D) | Universities, universities of applied sciences, companies and start-ups |
| Suppliers | Manufacturers and suppliers of grid components and service providers in the field of IT and consulting |
| Public | Residents living near existing installations, people affected by grid projects and landowners |
| Media | Major specialist media in Switzerland, mass media |
| Neighbouring system operators | Owners and operators of grid systems in the rail, gas and telecommunications sectors (e.g. SBB) |
| Europe | Foreign transmission system operators and European bodies such as the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E), the European Commission and the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) |
| Incident and crisis management (ECM) | Crisis teams of partner companies and national crisis organisations such as the Organisation for Power Supply in Extraordinary Situations (OSTRAL) |
Focus on stakeholder management
Swissgrid has defined various priorities that require particular attention in terms of stakeholder management.
Focus on Euorpe
ENTSO-E and the European transmission system operators are the most important stakeholders at European level, followed by the EU authorities (EU Commission, ACER). There is currently no electricity agreement between Switzerland and the EU. This is resulting in the progressive exclusion of Switzerland from European processes, platforms, committees and cooperation. Swissgrid is committed to close cooperation with the European transmission system operators in order to mitigate the negative effects for Switzerland. Swissgrid implements all regulatory requirements specified by the European authorities for secure system operation. In addition, the company has concluded contracts under private law with the transmission system operators from the «Italy North» and «Core» capacity calculation regions in order to be included in cross-border capacity calculations. However, these contracts under private law are not an adequate long-term substitute for an electricity agreement, partly because they can be overridden by changes in EU law and concern issues of a political nature that are outside Swissgrid’s area of expertise. Adoption of EU law is crucial in order to be able to participate in processes such as regional operational security coordination (ROSC) and in the various control energy platforms – TERRE, MARI and PICASSO. Switzerland is currently under threat of exclusion from some of these partnerships and platforms for political reasons. Swissgrid has lodged an appeal with the EU courts concerning its participation in the above-mentioned control energy platforms. Swissgrid is represented in numerous European technical committees and working groups in order to remain in constant dialogue with its European partners and to represent Switzerland’s interests, although there is also a risk of exclusion from these committees if no electricity agreement is reached.
Focus on the Swiss electricity industry
Swissgrid’s most important stakeholders in Switzerland include power plant and distribution system operators, balance group managers and ancillary services providers. Swissgrid works closely with these industry partners in the areas of infrastructure, market and operation. Swissgrid implements various initiatives and projects in cooperation with the industry.
With regard to infrastructure, close coordination and cooperation takes place between Swissgrid and power plant and grid operators as part of long-term grid planning. Swissgrid successfully launched regional grid coordination in Central Switzerland in 2024. The aim is to work with distribution system operators and the canton to develop a long-term target grid for bundled infrastructure.
In grid operations, phase B of the pilot project to integrate decentralised energy resources into grid and ancillary services with flexibility providers and distribution system operators was successfully completed in 2024, for example.
In addition to its operational activities with the electricity sector, Swissgrid holds various industry events such as the Grid Forum, the Balance Group Management (BMG) Partner Meeting and the grid usage conference. Swissgrid also organises webinars on various topics, such as transmission grid tariffs, market developments in Europe and challenges and measures related to grid operations.
Focus on authorities and politics in Switzerland
Swissgrid engages in active relationship management and dialogue with the public, the media, politicians, authorities, associations, industry partners and neighbouring transmission system operators.
Swissgrid uses various platforms, channels and vessels for networking that are tailored to the specific needs of stakeholders. They include personal discussions, digital channels, media work, industry gatherings, session events and information meetings in regions where Swissgrid is planning and implementing grid projects. Opportunities for collaboration with partners and references on third-party platforms are systematically examined.
The transmission system is one of Switzerland’s most critical infrastructures and makes a significant contribution to a functioning society and economy. Swissgrid communicates with the public, the economy, politicians and authorities to keep them informed about its tasks and the challenges it faces. The company sees itself as a provider of knowledge and a trustworthy source of information.
The further development of stakeholder dialogue is part of the 2027 corporate strategy. Swissgrid intends to strengthen its relationship with stakeholders even more in the future. Swissgrid considers it particularly important to raise awareness of the need for good cooperation with European partners and for an electricity agreement with the EU, as well as the need for regulatory action in Switzerland.
Focus on the Swiss public
Swissgrid’s grid projects concern not only the authorities and politicians, but also the public, interest groups and environmental organisations.
Grid expansion – particularly for grind construction projects from the Strategic Grid – follows a legally prescribed procedure. This procedure is made up of several different phases. The authorities and the public are kept informed and can participate actively during each phase.
Memberships
In order to fulfil its legal mandate, Swissgrid represents its concerns and interests in around 120 Swiss and European bodies . Certain committees are classified as highly relevant by the Executive Board and are coordinated by committee management. Annual committee targets are defined for these committees on the basis of Swissgrid’s corporate objectives. In addition, briefings and debriefings are held at which the respective Swissgrid position is developed with all technical, economic, legal or regulatory and strategic aspects, and upcoming tasks are distributed internally. The following 18 bodies are currently categorised as highly relevant by the Executive Board.
ENTSO-E ICTC
The ENTSO-E Information and Communication Technologies Committee meets the business needs of the association by ensuring the governance and oversight of the technical management, development and operation of the association’s ICT infrastructure, product, standards, architecture and services.
JAO SH
Mandatory participation according to the Articles of Incorporation
The Joint Allocation Office is the leading service provider for transmission system operators on the European electricity market. Cross-border transfer capacity rights can be auctioned via a uniform trading platform. JAO also provides accounting (clearing and settlement), contracting, reporting, project support and IT services.
TSC / TSCNET committees
Three committees in total, mandatory participation in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation
TSCNET Services, the regional security coordinator based in Munich, helps the transmission system operators to keep the world’s largest synchronised grid stable. TSCNET Services is one of the leading regional security coordinators (RCC) in Europe. The company provides electricity transmission system operators and their control centres with integrated services to maintain the operational security of our electricity system – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
ENTSO-E SDC
The ENTSO-E System Development Committee is responsible for cooperation between transmission system operators in the areas of grid development and planning. Its main task is to coordinate the development of a secure, environmentally sound and economic transmission system with the aim of creating a robust European grid.
IBWT SC
The Italian Borders Working Table is the joint market coupling project for the allocation of cross-border transfer capacity between twelve European countries (Italy, Greece, France, Switzerland, Slovenia, Germany, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark and Norway), in which the transmission system operators (ADMIE, APG, ELES, RTE, Swissgrid and TERNA) and the power exchanges work together.
HGRT / EPEX SB
Mandatory participation in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation
Swissgrid holds a stake in the Holding des Gestionnaires de Réseau de Transport d'Electricité. The holding company is owned by European transmission system operators and combines their influence on the leading spot exchange for power in Central and Western Europe, EPEX SPOT, via a 49% stake. Swissgrid sits on the Boards of Directors of HGRT and EPEX SPOT.
VSE Board of Directors
The Association of Swiss Electricity Companies is the nationally and internationally recognised umbrella organisation of the Swiss electricity industry, founded in 1895. It has more than 400 members who operate along the entire value chain (electricity producers, distribution system operators, cross-connected companies) and produce more than 90% of Switzerland’s electricity. The VSE Board is made up of thirteen representatives of eight interest groups and industry associations.
Operational Coordination Switzerland
Close cooperation between all the national players involved in the electricity sector is imperative for security of supply in Switzerland. The Operational Coordination Switzerland committee ensures coordination between the various players and the appropriate flow of information.
Other bodies
Renewables Grid Initiative (RGI)
RGI is an association of non-governmental organisations and transmission system operators from all over Europe who are committed to transparent and sustainable grid expansion. The aim is to promote the growth of renewable energies and to achieve complete decarbonisation in line with the Paris Agreement.
CIGRE
At an international level, CIGRE addresses matters relating to all grid levels, from extra-high voltage to decentralised, intelligent electricity systems. CIGRE’s main goal is to optimise existing grids and energy systems and to develop them further for the future. The focus is primarily on the areas of sector coupling, storage and controllable consumers (hydrogen, hydro/heat/gas storage, heat pumping technology and electromobility).
Transparency
Transparency is the basis for Swissgrid’s credibility and therefore represents an important pillar in its communication with the various stakeholders. Swissgrid sees it as its mission to provide the general public with precise, easily accessible and comprehensible information on its business activities. Swissgrid fulfils its legal obligations in financial and non-financial matters by publishing an Annual Report.
Swissgrid also meets the requirements for transparency in its activities on the financial and power markets, for instance by complying with all the requirements of the Financial Market Infrastructure Act (FMIA). The rules laid down in the FMIA are intended to ensure that the financial markets function fairly and transparently for all investors and that the stability of the financial system is guaranteed. The rules prohibit activities such as insider trading and market manipulation, and stipulate reporting and risk minimisation obligations in derivatives trading. Swissgrid also ensures fair behaviour and transparency on the European wholesale energy markets. These relevant legal standards, in particular Regulation (EU) No. 1227/2011 (EU-REMIT Regulation) and Regulation (EU) No. 543/2013 (Fundamental Data Regulation), prohibit insider trading and market manipulation, among other things, and oblige Swissgrid to publish certain information.
In the current reporting year, Swissgrid updated the internal company principles for the implementation of the new Federal Act on Data Protection (nFADP). The purpose of the nFADP is to protect the privacy and fundamental rights of natural persons whose personal data is processed. In the past reporting year, no complaints about breaches of data protection or cases of data theft or loss in connection with customer data were reported to or identified by the data protection advisor.
Swissgrid pursues a high degree of transparency when publishing its grid data. On Swissgrid’s website, it is possible to access key figures and data about frequency, import and export, as well as Wide Area Monitoring and an energy overview for Switzerland. The aim of implementing the monitoring area is to achieve greater transparency in data interchange with distribution system operators for grid operation planning and management purposes, and to ensure even greater operational security as a result. Swissgrid is currently putting this major project into practice with the industry.