CSC & vCSC: Make the most of your solar energy and reduce your electricity costs
Maximize your self-consumption with a collective self-consumption (CSC). Reduce your electricity costs, increase the value of your property, and actively shape your energy future. Find out everything you need to know about the advantages of CSC and virtual CSC (vCSC) here.
Your benefits with the smart-me solution
Manage all consumption data for your property digitally and in real time. The data is securely transmitted from our meters via Wi-Fi to the smart-me cloud, where you can conveniently edit it in the web portal. This is the ideal basis for (v)CSC in apartment buildings or commercial units.
Complete legal compliance
Our MID- and load profile-certified meters guarantee billing that meets all legal requirements in Switzerland and Germany.
Automated billing
Create consumption-based VEWA-compliant bills for electricity, heating, water, and e-Mobility with just a few clicks and save valuable time.
Optimize self-consumption
Control large consumers such as heat pumps or charging stations intelligently with available solar power. Our real-time data can be exported to third-party systems via open interfaces.
Multilevel Load Management
Prevent costly peak loads and ensure stable, cost-effective operation of your charging infrastructure.
Intuitive user interface
Visualize all measurement data for electricity, heat, water, and e-Mobility clearly and in real-time on our web portal.
Data export for ESCO
Export all measurement data in common formats, ideal for billing, network analysis, or sharing with your energy service company (ESCO).
One solution for all cases: CSC and vCSC
Whether CSC or vCSC – with smart-me, you have the perfect, legally compliant solution for automated measurement and billing of real-time data.
What is a CSC?
A CSC combines producers and consumers on a single property to form a community. Locally produced solar power is distributed directly to tenants or condominium owners in the same building and consumed there.
The role of smart-me: We supply the precise and certified meters and the software for fully automated, consumption-based billing and visualization of real-time data within the building.
What is a virtual CSC?
A vCSC makes it possible to virtually connect several neighboring properties or buildings into a single entity, even if they have separate connections to the public grid.
The role of smart-me: Our platform consolidates the data from all connected meters and creates transparent, uniform billing for the entire virtual community.
Who is the smart-me CSC and vCSC solution ideal for?
Electricians & solar installers
Offer your customers a flexible, future-proof system that is suitable for new and existing buildings and meets all their needs precisely. Easy installation and commissioning guaranteed.
Energy service company (ESCO)
Unlock new, data-driven services with the smart-me Cloud. Optimize your customers’ energy consumption with real-time data and play an active and profitable role in shaping the energy transition.
Property management / Owners
Benefit from legally compliant, consumer-friendly, and fully automated billing that saves you valuable time, costs, and administrative effort.
Real estate developer
Equip your projects with modern, sustainable infrastructure, offer your tenants or buyers real added value, and optimize the efficiency and return on investment of your property at the same time. Our products are Swiss Minergie certified.
Projects in the field
Our technology successfully solves complex challenges and is already being used in over 11’000 CSC projects.
CSC Zimel, Unterägeri
Energy is intelligently linked in this area comprising twelve buildings and 149 apartments. Electricity, heat, and water come directly from the surrounding area and are used for efficient, local supply.
vCSC reference object
A smart energy solution connects five apartment buildings and a commercial building. Forty apartments share locally generated electricity and heat—intelligently controlled and efficiently distributed.
CSC Inwil Dorf, Baar
In this modern housing development with eight houses, smart-me technology is used. The consumption of electricity, heating, cooling, and water is recorded digitally, enabling transparent and fair billing.
The road to success
From solar power to billing – in 4 automated steps.
1. Easy installation
Your local smart-me partner installs the certified smart-me meters at the relevant points (production, apartments, common areas). The meters connect seamlessly to the smart-me cloud and do not require any complicated additional gateway devices.
2. Complete data collection
From the very first second, smart-me meters measure all energy flows in real time. The data is stored securely on our servers in Switzerland and is available to you at any time. The devices have local data storage in case of an unplanned cloud outage.
3. Smart management in the portal
Set individual rates for electricity, heat, or water. Easily define virtual rates – for example, for solar or battery power – and enable flexible, fair, transparent, and completely digital energy billing for all users.
4. Billing with a single click
Select the billing period and click on “Create invoice.” The system automatically generates a detailed, legally compliant, and personalized PDF invoice for each participant and sends it digitally.
This is how vCSC works
More flexibility for your self-consumption
The virtual CSC (vCSC) digitally connects spatially separated buildings to form a single energy community – without the need for costly modifications to the grid connection.
Billing is just as straightforward as with a conventional CSC. You install the measuring points as usual in your smart-me account and configure them directly in the cloud for management and billing. The result: each participating party receives transparent billing based on actual consumption. Data from existing Distribution System Operator (DSO) meters can be imported directly via swisseldex.
It should be noted that this does not involve real-time data. In this case, smart-me recommends replacing the existing DSO meters with our product, the Nimbus 100A.
No costly renovations
Connect buildings digitally without expensive modifications to the electrical infrastructure. This saves costs and speeds up your project.
Maximum cost-effectiveness
Directly used solar power is billed without additional grid fees. This makes self-consumption more efficient and lucrative.
Flexible participation
Even buildings without their own PV system can connect and benefit from locally produced solar power.
FAQ - Frequently asked questions about CSC and vCSC
What is required to establish a CSC with smart-me?
For a CSC with smart-me, you essentially need smart, MID-certified meters and optional e-charging stations, as well as the corresponding cloud licenses for billing. Our certified partners will be happy to assist you with the implementation of your project.
What are the advantages of a (v)CSC with smart-me compared to models offered by energy suppliers?
Above all, you benefit from significant cost advantages and greater independence. Since there is only one main grid connection, many fixed fees are only incurred once. In addition, you determine the price of your solar power yourself, making you less dependent on the tariffs charged by energy suppliers.
Are there any legal differences between a CSC and a vCSC?
No, legally, CSC and vCSC are treated equally in Switzerland. The difference is purely technical: a CSC connects participants on a single property, while a vCSC digitally connects several neighboring properties into a community.
Is billing with a smart-me (v)CSC easy?
Yes, absolutely. Billing is automated with the click of a button. The system generates a legally compliant PDF invoice with a QR code for each participant. For even more convenience, you can simply outsource the entire process, including collection, with smart-me autobill.
Can individual tenants/users see how much solar power they have used themselves and how much it has cost?
Yes, full transparency is guaranteed. Every user can see their live consumption and the proportion of solar power they have used themselves at any time in the smart-me app and web portal. The cost savings achieved through cheaper solar power are clearly and comprehensibly shown on the monthly bill.
Is debt collection handled for end consumers?
Yes, we can take care of that for you if you wish. Our smart-me autobill service is a comprehensive package where smart-me or our partners take care of the entire process from invoicing to collection. This completely eliminates any administrative effort on your side.
Is the smart-me CSC solution compatible with electric charging stations?
Yes, 100%. Our solution is perfectly designed for e-mobility. Our e-charging stations are seamlessly integrated and the charging current is automatically billed per user according to consumption. In addition, intelligent load management ensures optimal power distribution between the building and the vehicles.
Kilian Cadilek
Sales Manager for CSC and vCSC
Start your project with smart-me
Kilian Cadilek is our expert for CSC , vCSC, and self-consumption solutions. He will be happy to support you with his knowledge to find the optimal, legally compliant solution for you.
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