Switzerland has three models for sharing or trading locally produced electricity:
ZEV (self-consumption community): Several parties within the same building or on the same site share the solar power they generate. Behind the grid connection point, the ZEV appears to the grid operator as a single customer.
vZEV (virtual self-consumption community): Extends the ZEV principle beyond your own property, to neighbours across the street, for example. Electricity is allocated virtually using the metering data, with no lines of your own required. A vZEV also appears to the grid operator as a single party.
LEG (local electricity community): The newest model, available since 2026. A LEG allows an entire municipality to trade electricity over the public grid. The discount on grid fees for locally traded electricity depends on whether the voltage has to be transformed between participants: if everyone is on the same grid level it is 40%, otherwise 20%.
Combining the models: You can only take part in one community at a time – either a ZEV or vZEV, or a LEG. But since a ZEV or vZEV appears to the grid operator as a single party, it can join a LEG as a whole. A ZEV nested inside a vZEV, which in turn forms part of a LEG, is possible too – we already operate and bill setups like these.
The term "energy community" is often used as an umbrella term for all three models. UpGrid helps you choose the right one and takes care of the setup, the billing and the administration.
Learn more: Buy energy | Sell energy | For municipalities