ElCom and Central European regulators pave the way for Swissgrid's integration into capacity calculation from 2028

Switzerland's Federal Electricity Commission (ElCom) announced on 3 November that, together with the regulatory authorities of the Central Europe (CE) region, it has signed a joint position on integrating the transmission system operator Swissgrid into the new capacity calculation region CCR CE. The region results from the merger of the “Core” and “Italy North” regions. According to ElCom, the document confirms the joint validation, by the regulators, of an integrated technical agreement concluded between the transmission system operators involved.

What was decided. The integration will take place in stages. The first concerns the capacity calculation methodology for the market for the following day (day-ahead), with introduction scheduled for early 2028. The intraday market will follow, probably during 2029, and then long-term capacity allocation. Swissgrid will in principle assume the same obligations as the European transmission system operators involved. Before implementation, a test phase with parallel operation is planned, focusing on the quality of coordination, operational security and the timely publication of cross-border capacities.

Background. At the end of 2024, ElCom had approved a technical agreement with the countries of the Core region for the day-ahead market which, according to Swissgrid, had to be reconfirmed annually and unanimously by the regulators. Because of the merger of the regions, a reduced “interim solution” has applied since the beginning of 2026. It improves the security of the Swiss grid but does not lead to a joint capacity calculation with neighbouring operators: according to an ElCom note from January, each neighbouring operator calculates its capacities towards Switzerland separately, and at each border the lower of the neighbour's value and Swissgrid's value applies.

What comes next. Unlike the previous agreement, the new solution is valid for an indefinite period and can be terminated with six months' notice. ElCom stresses that it does not replace an electricity agreement with the European Union: Switzerland does not take part in market coupling, and the document does not cover the balancing platforms either. Uncertainties remain, among other things because of the ongoing revision of the European CACM regulation on capacity allocation and congestion management.

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