PVTIME – From April 2027, leading Swiss grid operator BKW will launch a voluntary dynamic solar tariff for residential and commercial customers. As part of the Sonne scheint programme, the initiative will run annually between April and September, offering time-varying grid charge discounts between 13:00 and 17:00. These discounts will be calculated daily using MeteoSwiss solar forecasts. Eligible users can receive discounts of up to 40% in clear weather and 20% in lightly cloudy conditions. These discounts are designed to encourage flexible electricity use during periods of strong solar output.
The tariff framework uses regionalised discounting to offset national variations in solar availability. Locations with lower sunlight receive higher discount values, but have fewer opportunities to receive them, while sunnier regions benefit from more frequent, albeit smaller, price reductions. This targeted structure supports grid stability by aligning consumer power demand with peak domestic solar generation.
Energy management systems allow flexible loads, such as electric vehicle charging, heat pumps and boilers, to be rescheduled to coincide with the discounted tariff periods. Participation in the programme does not require on-site photovoltaic equipment or smart home infrastructure; eligibility is conditional only on the use of smart meters provided by BKW for precise time-based consumption measurement. Public registration across five regional areas is scheduled to open in autumn, ahead of the scheme’s launch.
BKW confirms that the dynamic tariff acts as an efficient grid pricing tool that incentivises the greater uptake of local solar power during periods of high generation. From mid-2026, the firm will also introduce a revised market-based remuneration mechanism for solar producers. This updated voluntary model links generator compensation to Swiss day-ahead spot market prices, encouraging higher on-site self-consumption during periods of low or negative prices and targeted grid export during favourable market conditions.
