Self-consumption community in the Canton of Zurich
ZEV and vZEV in the Canton of ZurichShare solar power at home.
In the Canton of Zurich, a ZEV can meet the own-power duty for new buildings. We clarify on site which model suits your building.
- Site visit: free and with no obligation
- Binding quote within 72 hours
- Calculated with the electricity price in the Canton of Zurich: 24.8 ct./kWh
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- documented reference systems
- 29
- output of these systems
- 718.1kWp
- to a binding quote
- 72h
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Data in the Canton of Zurich
Apartment buildings and solar power in the Canton of Zurich
- Household electricity price 2026
- 24.8ct./kWh
- Median of the grid operators, excluding VAT. 2.9 ct. below the Swiss median (27.7 ct.).
- apartment buildings
- 77,814
- 34.0% of residential buildings (Switzerland 22.7%).
- Solar potential of the roofs per year
- 7,291GWh
- Used so far: 11.5% (Switzerland 12.8%).
- Solar power per person per year
- 497kWh
- Switzerland: 866 kWh.
- of passenger cars are electric
- 7.0%
- Switzerland: 5.5%. An EV charger turns solar power into driving power.
- of residential buildings already use a heat pump
- 29.8%
- Switzerland: 26.2%.
Example: apartment building with a 30 kWp system in the Canton of Zurich
- Yield per yeararound 30,000 kWh
- Used in the building (50%)15,000 kWh
- Value at the grid pricearound CHF 3,720 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 24.8 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 Zurich
What applies in the Canton of Zurich for your ZEV
ZEV, vZEV and LEG in brief
In a ZEV (self-consumption community), the parties on a plot share the solar power from their own roof. In a vZEV (virtual ZEV), each party keeps its connection, and the grid operator allocates the solar power through its metering. Since 1 January 2026 there has also been the local electricity community (LEG), which includes neighbouring plots through the public grid. Federal law sets the details on output, metering and tariff, and we check them during planning.
What applies in the Canton of Zurich
The Canton of Zurich requires new buildings to generate part of the electricity they need themselves (§ 10c of the Energy Act). The basis for the calculation is the energy reference area. The act expressly names two routes: a system on the plot, or participation in a self-consumption community under federal law. Anyone who goes below the minimum requirements for the building envelope and building services can do without own power generation. The ordinance sets out the scope, exceptions and how a ZEV is counted.
For developers of apartment buildings, this is a clear advantage. The solar system, which is mandatory anyway, becomes the power source for the flats through a ZEV. For existing buildings this duty does not apply, and a ZEV remains a voluntary solution there for more self-consumption.
Grid operator and metering
In the Canton of Zurich, EKZ supplies most communes. For local electricity communities, EKZ says it offers a package called «Gemeinsamstrom» (shared power), and in September 2026 there were 157 active LEGs in its area. In the other communes, the rules of the respective utility apply. Each utility sets registration, meter types and billing for ZEV, vZEV and LEG itself.
We agree the metering concept and registration with your grid operator, plan the solar system and the meters together, and show you how billing works. Whether a battery storage system is worthwhile as well, we calculate with your consumption profile.
Grid operators
Electricity prices 2026 in the Canton of Zurich
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich | Elektrizitätswerk der Stadt Zürich | 24.8 |
| Winterthur | Stadtwerk Winterthur | 30.5 |
| Uster | ENERGIE USTER AG | 28.6 |
| Dübendorf | Glattwerk AG | 26.3 |
| Dietikon | Elektrizitätswerke des Kantons Zürich (EKZ) | 24.1 |
| Wetzikon | Stadtwerke Wetzikon | 30.1 |
| Wädenswil | Elektrizitätswerke des Kantons Zürich (EKZ) | 24.1 |
| Horgen | Elektrizitätswerke des Kantons Zürich (EKZ) | 24.1 |
| Bülach | Elektrizitätswerke des Kantons Zürich (EKZ) | 24.1 |
| Kloten | Elektrizitätswerke des Kantons Zürich (EKZ) | 24.1 |
| Opfikon | Energie Opfikon AG | 26.4 |
| Schlieren | Elektrizitätswerke des Kantons Zürich (EKZ) | 24.1 |
| Regensdorf | Elektrizitätswerke des Kantons Zürich (EKZ) | 24.1 |
| Adliswil | Elektrizitätswerke des Kantons Zürich (EKZ) | 24.1 |
| Volketswil | Elektrizitätswerke des Kantons Zürich (EKZ) | 24.1 |
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 a ZEV in the Canton of Zurich count as own power generation for a new building?
Yes. The Zurich Energy Act allows own power generation in new buildings to be carried out also in a self-consumption community under Art. 17 of the federal act. The ordinance sets out in detail how it is counted, and we check this with you before the building application.
Who is responsible for metering and connection in the Canton of Zurich?
Your grid operator: in most of the canton it is EKZ, and in other communes a local utility. We clarify the metering concept and registration with the responsible utility before we prepare the quote.
Is a LEG worthwhile instead of a ZEV in the Canton of Zurich?
A LEG suits you if you want to share solar power across several plots. For a single apartment building, the ZEV or vZEV is usually simpler. We compare both routes with your figures.
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
