In Switzerland, there is growing concern about a “power shortage” and a winter blackout. Driving bans for electric cars are now even threatened in the crisis.
After dry summers, hydropower in Switzerland could reach its limits in the following winter. In winter, the country imports large amounts of electricity from abroad, mainly France and Germany. In 2021, according to “Golem”, it should have been 5.7 billion kilowatt hours that were additionally fed into the federal grid.
Conversely, this means that if German wind farms happen to be slack or the ailing French nuclear power plants are down again, Switzerland is also threatened with a power shortage.
Read more: Neighboring country gears up for severe winter blackout
That’s why our neighboring country is now increasingly expecting a blackout, or at least electricity shutdowns by canton. A draft of the Swiss Confederation entitled “Ordinance on Restrictions and Bans on the Use of Electrical Energy”, which is to be adopted from December 12, proposes drastic measures.
18 degrees in apartments
It outlines four escalation levels: First, the government would make urgent austerity appeals to all electricity consumers. In further steps there would be comfort restrictions such as a ban on object lighting through to drastic measures such as plant closures.
In level 3 there should even be a temperature limit of 18 degrees in private apartments. “Network shutdowns are only intended as a last possible measure – as a last resort,” reports the TV station SRF.
In escalation level 3, the austerity measures will also affect electric cars. “In the event of a severe, ongoing shortage, the private use of electric cars can be limited to absolutely necessary journeys,” Swiss radio said. However, use for absolutely necessary journeys such as shopping, doctor visits and professional practice would remain permitted.
