Power, Internet & Mandatory Fees
2026 pricing updates and securing your essential home connections
Electricity (2026 Price Drop & New Tariffs)
Unlike internet providers, you cannot choose your electricity company; you are bound to the local provider of your municipality (e.g., SIG in Geneva, Romande Energie in Vaud, ewz in Zurich). Utilities are managed by local cantonal or communal monopolies.
Good news! The Federal Electricity Commission (ElCom) announced an average 4% decrease in Swiss electricity prices for 2026 due to stabilized European energy markets. An average household will save roughly 58 CHF this year.
The New "Metering Tariff" (2026 Update)
Starting in 2026, you will see a new mandatory line item on your bill called the "Metering Tariff" (Tarif de comptage). This covers the federal rollout of smart meters and costs a flat rate of roughly 5 to 8 CHF per month.
Billing Cycle & Registration
You must contact your local provider the day you move in to register the meter in your name. You usually receive an estimated bill every 2 to 3 months, with an annual reconciliation (décompte final) where the meter is physically read, and you are either refunded or billed for the difference.
The Serafe Tax (TV & Radio Fee)
This is the most frequent surprise for expats. By federal law, every private household in Switzerland must pay the radio and television fee, which funds the public broadcaster (SRG SSR), regardless of whether you actually own a TV or consume Swiss media. It is essentially a device-agnostic household tax.
2026 Pricing
335 CHF
Per year (2026)
Future Cut (2027)
312 CHF
Starting January 1, 2027
Savings
-23 CHF
Reduction in 2027
Serafe automatically gets your data from the commune when you register your address. You will simply receive an annual invoice in the mail. It is legally mandatory; do not ignore it.
Internet & Mobile Providers (The "Black Friday" Rule)
Switzerland has three main network operators: Swisscom, Sunrise, and Salt. The telecommunications market is highly competitive, offering excellent infrastructure (fiber optic is standard in cities).
The Premium Brands
Swisscom (the state-backed premium option), Sunrise, and Salt offer excellent customer service and physical stores, but their standard home internet + mobile bundles can easily cost over 120 CHF/month.
The Budget Flanker Brands
The secret to Swiss telecom is using the subsidiary "flanker" brands. Wingo (runs on the Swisscom network), Yallo (Sunrise), and GoMo (Salt) offer the exact same network speeds at a fraction of the cost. For much cheaper rates on the exact same networks, look at these digital subsidiary brands.
Never pay full list price for telecom in Switzerland. The market is hyper-competitive. Wait for promotional periods (Black Friday, back-to-school) to lock in "lifetime discounts," where you can easily get unlimited 5G mobile and 10Gbit fiber home internet for a combined total of 50 to 60 CHF/month. Providers run massive 50-60% off lifetime discount campaigns almost every single month.
Provider Comparison
| Provider Type | Examples | Monthly Cost | Network Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium Brands | Swisscom, Sunrise, Salt | 120+ CHF | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Budget Brands | Wingo, Yallo, GoMo | 50-60 CHF | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Sources & References
- Federal Electricity Commission (ElCom) - 2026 price directives
- Serafe AG - Official billing agency for radio/TV fee
- Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) - Telecom regulations
- SIG, Romande Energie, ewz - Major electricity providers
Ready to Connect Your Home?
Compare providers and save money on your essential utilities and internet.