Virtual Association for Self-Consumption (VZEV) and Local Electricity Communities (LEG)
As part of the new Federal Act on a Secure Electricity Supply with Renewable Energies, the possibilities for sustainable self-consumption of local solar power will be expanded in Switzerland from January 1, 2025. To achieve this, the association for self-consumption (ZEV), which has been permitted since 2018, will be supplemented by two further concepts: virtual associations for self-consumption (VZEV) and local electricity communities (LEG).
Several parties/buildings in the same area without a common physical grid connection can now form a Virtual Association for Self-Consumption (VZEV) and sell their solar power to each other at a profit without additional grid fees. In Local Electricity Communities (LEG), the area is defined even more broadly and a wide variety of buildings (with or without own solar production) in the same municipality can unite including the public grid.
Realization of VZEVs / LEGs with smart-me
smart-me AG offers the technology required to realize VZEVs and LEGs. This includes smart electricity meters, compatible charging stations and a billing platform that enables automated billing according to high, low and solar tariffs. The smart-me Billing platform facilitates easy, digital and automated billing of energy consumption.
In the future, it will also be possible to automatically import readings from existing energy supply company meters into the smart-me cloud for billing purposes.* This will enable VZEVs / LEGs with minimal installation effort and ensure digital billing.
* The integration of data from energy supply company meters depends on regulatory implementation. smart-me is prepared for various implementation scenarios.
Use case VZEV of neighbouring buildings
Use case LEG within the same location / commune
What is a VZEV?
A Virtual Association for Self-Consumption (VZEV) allows multiple buildings to share solar power without a physical grid connection point, reducing conversion costs and making self-consumption more economical.
This addresses the challenge in Switzerland where traditional self-consumption associations (ZEV) are hindered by the need for physical meters. VZEVs enable nearby buildings to virtually connect and share solar power without additional grid costs.
Who is a VZEV suitable for?
- Neighbors in residential areas
- Existing apartment buildings that are investing in a solar system
- Nearby commercial buildings
- A combination of the above scenarios
Example of a VZEV
In a residential area, three houses with five parties in the same street form a VZEV. Only one of the buildings has a solar system. Through the VZEV, the owner of the photovoltaic system can sell surplus solar power directly to neighbors without involving the grid operator, resulting in better prices. The neighbors in return, benefit from locally generated, cheaper solar power.
What is a LEG?
A Local Energy Group (LEG) allows buildings within a town or municipality to join together and sell the solar power they produce to each other. While they use the existing grid lines, they benefit from a preferential price on grid fees, which is yet to be defined.
Who is a LEG suitable for?
- Political municipalities
- Industrial zones
- Corporations
- Building cooperatives
- Real estate owners with properties in the same municipality
- A combination of the above scenarios
Example of a LEG
A municipality creates an LEG by combining its properties and inviting other interested parties to join.Both buildings with and without solar installations can be included.Solar power generated by the producing buildings is directly billed to those without solar installations at preferential rates. This setup allows for efficient commercialization of locally produced electricity.
Advantages of smart-me
Energy cost billing
Create automated and user-friendly energy bills for electricity, water and heat with the smart-me Billing tool.
Live energy management
View energy consumption and production in real time on the web portal.
Optimization of consumption
Optimize self-consumption by dynamically controlling consumers at building and, if necessary, neighborhood level.
Integrate charging stations
Integrate the charging of electric cars into your energy management. Charging stations with multiple users can be easily managed via eCarUp.
Intuitive user interface
Smart apps support your customers in energy monitoring and optimization. Visualization creates transparency and trust.
Open interfaces
Export your data to any third-party system using various interfaces, allowing you to process it e.g. in your real estate software or other applications.
How it works
The energy data is transferred to the smart-me cloud via WLAN. You can then assign the meters to buildings and apartments in the web portal. You can also set the tariffs for electricity, heat, water and gas there yourself. Virtual tariffs can also be created, for example a solar or battery tariff. It is also possible to add other costs to the energy bill. You can then create energy cost bills with a single click. These can be downloaded and sent by email.
Make the difference!
Find out more about our VZEV and LEG solutions and how you can revolutionise and optimise your energy management.
Fabian Trinkler
Sales Manager VZEV & LEG