Federal Council lowers KEV rates
Operators of PV systems and small hydropower plants will receive significantly lower rates from the compensatory feed-in remuneration (KEV) in the future. This has been determined by the Federal Council.
Bad news for operators of PV systems: The compensation rates are to be massively reduced again in 2017. The photovoltaic remuneration rate will be reduced by up to 28 percent in two steps as of April 1 and October 1, 2017, and will then be a uniform 13.7 centimes for attached and free-standing systems and 15.8 centimes for integrated systems.
The one-time payment for photovoltaic systems with a capacity of up to 30 kW will be reduced in two steps as of April 1, 2017 and April 1, 2018. For attached and free-standing systems, the basic contribution remains unchanged, the performance contribution will be reduced by a total of 100 francs/kW in the two steps. For integrated plants, the basic contribution will decrease by 200 francs and the performance contribution will decrease in two steps by a total of 150 francs/kW.
The new KEV remuneration rates and one-off payments apply to plants commissioned after the entry into force of this ordinance revision.
Small hydropower: hydraulic engineering bonus and basic remuneration affected
Small hydropower plants are also affected. For these, the basic tariffs will be up to 18% lower and the hydraulic construction bonus up to 50% lower as of January 1, 2017. The new compensation rates apply to plants commissioned after the effective date of this ordinance revision. Operators of facilities that begin operation on or after January 1, 2017, but have received a positive determination and submitted the complete initial project progress report prior to that date, are not affected.
On December 2, 2016, the Federal Council set out these and other changes in a revision of the Energy Ordinance, which will come into force on January 1, 2017.
Source: Federal Council/UVEK/BFE
