Self-consumption community in the Canton of Bern
ZEV and vZEV in the Canton of BernSolar duty since 2026.
In the Canton of Bern, new buildings have had to generate solar power since 2026. A ZEV makes sure the tenants use the power from their own roof.
- Site visit: free and with no obligation
- Binding quote within 72 hours
- Calculated with the electricity price in the Canton of Bern: 29.3 ct./kWh
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- documented reference systems
- 29
- output of these systems
- 718.1kWp
- to a binding quote
- 72h
- is what the site visit costs
- 0CHF
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Data in the Canton of Bern
Apartment buildings and solar power in the Canton of Bern
- Household electricity price 2026
- 29.3ct./kWh
- Median of the grid operators, excluding VAT. 1.6 ct. above the Swiss median (27.7 ct.).
- apartment buildings
- 57,006
- 23.9% of residential buildings (Switzerland 22.7%).
- Solar potential of the roofs per year
- 9,136GWh
- Used so far: 11.2% (Switzerland 12.8%).
- Solar power per person per year
- 943kWh
- Switzerland: 866 kWh.
- of passenger cars are electric
- 5.2%
- Switzerland: 5.5%. An EV charger turns solar power into driving power.
- of residential buildings already use a heat pump
- 22.6%
- Switzerland: 26.2%.
Example: apartment building with a 30 kWp system in the Canton of Bern
- Yield per yeararound 30,000 kWh
- Used in the building (50%)15,000 kWh
- Value at the grid pricearound CHF 4,400 a year
- Federal one-off paymentCHF 10,800
Guide value, not a quote. Assumptions: 1,000 kWh per kWp, several flats with heat pump or electric car, electricity price 29.3 ct./kWh excluding VAT. How the value is shared between owners and residents depends on the internal electricity price, which we set with you. More in our guide Solar power from your own roof
Calculate it for our buildingSources: ElCom (electricity prices 2026), Swiss Federal Office of Energy (solar potential), Energie Reporter by geoimpact on behalf of SwissEnergy (solar power, electric cars; CC BY 4.0), Federal Statistical Office (Register of Buildings and Dwellings), MeteoSwiss (hail climate), Energy Promotion Ordinance (one-off payment).
ZEV and vZEV in the Canton of Bern
What applies in the Canton of Bern for your ZEV
ZEV, vZEV and LEG in brief
The federal government regulates the self-consumption community (ZEV) in the Energy Act (Art. 17 and 18) and in the Energy Ordinance (Art. 14 to 18). A ZEV brings several parties on one plot together behind a shared grid connection. The virtual ZEV (vZEV) uses existing connections and allocates the solar power through virtual metering. The local electricity community (LEG) has applied since 1 January 2026 and allows exchange over the public grid, with a reduced grid usage tariff. Which form suits your building depends on the connection and the grid operator.
What applies in the Canton of Bern
Since 1 January 2026, new buildings and extensions in the Canton of Bern must be fitted with solar systems on at least 10% of the eligible building area. For extensive roof renovations there is a notification duty. For developers of apartment buildings this means: the system has to be built anyway, and the only open question is who uses the power. With a ZEV it stays in the building, and the residents benefit from it.
The system itself is usually notified through the eBau portal. More on this on the solar system page.
Grid operator and metering
BKW supplies most of the communes in Bern, and there are individual utilities such as Elektra Jegenstorf or IBI in Interlaken. Each grid operator decides how it handles registration, meters and metering data for a ZEV. For the vZEV and the LEG, the utility supplies the metering data, so we clarify the options early with the responsible grid operator.
We plan the metering concept in the building as well: one meter per flat, meters for the system and the basis for billing. We register the system and submit subsidy applications. We handle everything from planning to commissioning from a single source, with our own installers.
You can read more about the economics of your own power in the guide to solar power from your own roof.
Grid operators
Electricity prices 2026 in the Canton of Bern
What power from the grid costs is set by your grid operator. The more expensive grid power is, the more every kilowatt hour you use from your own roof is worth.Swiss median: 27.7 ct./kWh.
| Commune | Grid operator | ct./kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Bern | Energie Wasser Bern | 33.3 |
| Biel/Bienne | Energie Service Biel/Bienne (ESB) | 29.5 |
| Thun | Energie Thun AG | 29.3 |
| Köniz | BKW Energie AG | 28.1 |
| Ostermundigen | BKW Energie AG | 27.7 |
| Burgdorf | Localnet AG | 31.9 |
| Steffisburg | NetZulg AG | 29.9 |
| Lyss | Evolon AG | 34.0 |
| Langenthal | IB Langenthal AG | 30.4 |
| Muri bei Bern | BKW Energie AG | 27.7 |
| Spiez | BKW Energie AG | 27.7 |
| Münsingen | InfraWerkeMünsingen (IWM) | 31.9 |
| Belp | Energie Belp AG | 36.3 |
| Worb | BKW Energie AG | 28.2 |
| Zollikofen | BKW Energie AG | 27.7 |
Source: ElCom, Federal Electricity Commission, tariffs 2026.
The free site visit
One appointment at your home. Then you know everything.
A project manager from our team visits you and checks three things. No sales show, no obligation. Afterwards you receive a binding quote with yield, subsidies and payback.
01Roof
Area, orientation, pitch, condition of the roof covering and shading.
02Electrical system
Grid connection, distribution board and space for inverter and battery.
03Your consumption
Electricity bill, car, heating, plans. From this we calculate yield and subsidies.
How your project runs
Request
Tell us briefly about your building and your goal. Online or by phone.
Site visit
We check your roof, electrical system and consumption at your home. Free of charge.
Quote in 72 hours
Binding and transparent, with yield, subsidies and payback.
Permit and subsidies
We handle the notification procedure, the grid operator and Pronovo.
Installation and commissioning
Our own installers, a fixed date, final inspection with you on the roof.
Step 1 takes one minute. We take care of the rest.
Google reviews
What our customers say about us.
5.0
Unabridged and unedited, straight from our Google profile. The reviews are in German.
All reviews on GoogleWir sind sehr zufrieden mit unserer Wallbox für unser E-Auto.
Cemil B. · October 2026
Wir können Solarinnovation.ch und insbesondere Jordan für seine kompetente Beratung und perfekte Umsetzung als zuverlässigen Partner für nachhaltige Energielösungen aus einer Hand von Herzen weiterempfehlen. Er hat uns mit seinem umfangreichen Fachwissen von der ersten Beratung bis und mit der Umsetzung kompetent begleitet. Er hat alle Fragen immer verständlich erklärt. Wir sind mit der Indach-Solaranlage, kombiniert mit einem Speicher sehr zufrieden.
Daniel · August 2026
Die SolarInnovation GmbH hat mich durch ihre sehr flexible und kompetente Beratung und Arbeitsausführung sehr überzeugt!
Frederic L. · September 2025
Eine sehr seriöses Firma. Danke Aulson, Danke Jorden.
Alex I. · August 2025
Top Service und super Beratung! Unsere Solaranlage am linken Zürichseeufer läuft perfekt, produziert mehr Strom als erwartet und sieht auch noch toll aus. Absolut empfehlenswert!
Marc W. · August 2025
Built near you.
29 projects, 718.1 kWp in total. From Zumikon and Lachen we work all over German-speaking Switzerland, most often in the cantons of Zurich, St. Gallen, Schwyz and Aargau.
Canton of Zurich
- Rüti41.1 kWp
- Zürich26.6 kWp
- Zürich6.8 kWp
- Zürich10.9 kWp
- Gossau ZH7.7 kWp
- Zollikerberg17.7 kWp
- Ebmatingen16.9 kWp
- Ebmatingen17 kWp
- Zürich7.5 kWp
- Maur6.9 kWp
- Herrliberg14.8 kWp
- Herrliberg12 kWp
- Meilen17.2 kWp
- Bachs10.2 kWp
Canton of St. Gallen
Canton of Schwyz
Canton of Aargau
- Staffelbach16 kWp
- Reinach AG20.7 kWp
- Berikon19.8 kWp
- Oberkulm20.7 kWp
Canton of Lucerne
Canton of Zug
Frequently asked questions
Before you get in touch.
Is the site visit really free?
Yes. The visit and the quote cost you nothing and commit you to nothing. You only decide once you hold the binding quote in your hands.
Does the solar duty apply to a new building with a ZEV in the Canton of Bern?
Yes, the solar duty applies regardless of the ZEV. Since 1 January 2026, new buildings must have solar systems on at least 10% of the eligible building area. A ZEV makes the mandatory system economical, because the residents use the power.
Which grid operator is responsible for my ZEV in the Canton of Bern?
It depends on the commune. In most of the canton it is BKW, and there are smaller utilities as well. At the site visit we clarify who is responsible for your address and what metering it requires.
Can I form a vZEV instead of a ZEV in Bern, Thun or Biel?
Whether a vZEV is possible is decided by the grid operator, because it provides the virtual metering. We ask about this for your building and calculate both options so that you can compare.
Do all tenants have to take part in a ZEV?
No. Anyone who does not want to take part stays with the electricity utility. Participation must be voluntary, and the solar power must not cost more than grid electricity. We set out how this is handled in your building in the concept.
What can the solar power cost in a ZEV?
The internal tariff must be below the grid operator's price for comparable customers. As an industry guide value, a discount of about 20 per cent applies. The rules can change. We check the current status during planning.
Do I need a new solar system for a ZEV?
Usually yes, or at least an extension. Existing systems can often be integrated if the metering and distribution are adapted. We check this during the site visit.
Which regions do you cover?
All of German-speaking Switzerland. We build most often in the cantons of Zurich, St. Gallen, Schwyz and Aargau. Our locations are in Zumikon ZH and Lachen SZ.
From one company
Goes well with
The first step
We come to you. Free of charge.
We check your roof, electrical system and consumption. Afterwards you know what is possible on your roof, what it costs and which subsidies you receive. The binding quote follows within 72 hours.
- Free and with no obligation
- Quote within 72 hours
- Subsidies pre-financed on request
