En­er­gy sup­p­ly

The energy sector is in the midst of radical change. For all companies, associations and public authorities, the energy revolution is creating challenges. We help you overcome the specific requirements of your industry with economically substantiated analysis and implementation tools You thus maintain an overview of regulation and liberalisation initiatives and make the right strategic decisions at the right time.

Net­work re­gu­la­ti­on: stu­dies, work­shops, ad­vice

Meeting energy policy objectives requires reliable estimates and clear decisions. We specialise in the challenges faced by energy suppliers, network operators, associations, public authorities and political decision-makers. We advise you in topics relevant to your opinion-forming process with our primarily data-based studies and tailored workshops.

Da­ta-ba­sed stra­tegy de­ve­lo­p­ment

Is there potential for your company in the realisation of regulatory requirements? We are convinced that there is. We analyse and interpret costs and structural data and thus support you in your company’s development.

Cos­ting and pri­cing mo­dels

An optimal pricing and tariff system meets regulatory requirements and anticipates the company's economic developments. We support you from preliminary to post calculations that are tailored to your company’s and customers’ specific situation.

Com­mu­ni­ca­ti­on wi­th pu­blic aut­ho­ri­ties and courts

As a network operator and energy supplier, you negotiate with regulatory and competition authorities. For positioning your company, or dealing with legal proceedings, we offer you strategic advice, determine the facts and data, create detailed analysis, and work closely with your internal or external legal practitioners.

Some of our projects

Argumentation – regulatory procedures

Proceedings, efficiency comparison, incentive regulation, assessment

Providing a law firm with methodical expertise, quantitative analysis and scientific arguments to assist in a complaints procedure against the efficiency comparison of Germany’s Bundesnetzagentur.

Operating cost supplement – incentive regulation

Investment incentives, revenue cap, network operators, expert opinion

Creating a scientific report for a German association of energy suppliers. Assessing various methodological approaches to investment incentives, analysing the innovation and investment requirements for network operators.

Assessment and rating of the water network

Rating, asset evaluation, water supply

Assessment of the water and waste water infrastructure of an energy supplier and determination of the costs for the water tariffs.

Efficiency measurement – energy networks

Incentive regulation Germany, electricity/gas network operators, data pool

Measuring the efficiency of energy networks for German electricity and gas distribution system operators. Using the provided data pool for the strategic orientation and positioning of network operators as well as in legal proceedings.

Efficiency in transmission networks

Electricity TSO, international benchmarking, regulatory strategy

Helping a group of European transmission network operators perform an international efficiency comparison. For presentation of statement to the regulatory authorities and determining their position.

Investment decision – heat supply

Strategy, discounted cash flow, business plan, evaluation

Advising a Swiss energy supplier on an investment in a district heating project. Anticipating market and regulatory developments, incorporating these into the overall strategy, generating business plans as a decision-making basis.

Methods for measuring efficiency

Data envelopment analysis, stochastic frontier analysis, Bayesian

Developing existing methods for measuring efficiency (data envelopment analysis and stochastic frontier analysis) with the use of Bayesian methods, on the basis of data from national and international electricity and gas network operators.

Nemo data pool for gas distribution networks

Swiss gas supplier, regulation, data pool

The Nemo data pool for Swiss gas network operators provides you with the opportunity to have your data checked for plausibility in the “Nemo cost tool”. This helps to identify data errors and irregularities in your costing and rating. The performance indicator and tariff comparison report indicates structural irregularities and potential for improvement. You get answers to costing questions (cost structure and cost keys) and a suggestion for a strategic analysis and management of your own company (asset management, evaluation, development). The tariff comparisons can be used for assessing the network price and differentiation compared with other local network operators.

Network assessment

Costing, asset evaluation, multi-utility companies

Assessment of the infrastructures of the electricity, gas and water media of a Swiss energy supplier.

Tariff calculation for energy suppliers

Asset valuation, cost model, Excel models

Helping Swiss energy suppliers calculate tariffs under StromVV (Swiss electricity supply ordinance) and in the context of the gas associations agreement. Arranging and applying costs to tariff elements using customer tools and own Excel models.

VSE/AES Datenpool for electricity distribution networks

Swiss electricity providers, sunshine regulation, basic supply, data pool

The VSE/AES Datenpool© project has created numerous performance indicator analyses for electricity distribution network operators in Switzerland. Thanks to the participation in this data pool, you can control and optimise your costs in the areas of energy network and basic supply. It makes it possible for you to determine and understand your own position compared with similar companies (e.g. also for the sunshine regulation) and to justify your situation to the Federal Electricity Commission (ElCom).

Dr. Heike Worm

+41 62 205 15 71

Andreas Hauck

+41 62 205 15 72

Partners

Prof. Dr. Gert Brunekreeft, Jacobs University Bremen, Germany - Prof. Dr. Klaus Gugler, Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration, Austria - Prof. Dr. Mario Liebensteiner, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany

Clients

law firms - trade associations - federal agencies - departments/ministries - energy suppliers - network operators - network operator associations - network owners - companies of the energy sector - energy suppliers’ associations - gas utility associations - electric utility associations - water suppliers

Publications

Cos­ts of ETS par­ti­ci­pa­ti­on for WIP

CO2 emissions from waste incineration plants (WIPs) in Switzerland are currently excluded from the emissions trading system (ETS 1); as an equivalent measure, WIPs should have certain carbon capture and storage (CCS) capacities in operation by 2030. If this target is not met, the MSWI plants will be subject to ETS 1. In the study, we investigated the costs and implications of placing WIPs under ETS 1.From 2031, WIPs in the ETS 1 could incur additional costs of CHF 28 to 103 per tonne of waste - and as much as CHF 78 to 168 by 2040. There are also additional implementation costs of around CHF 1 per tonne of waste.  However, the steering effect of this price signal remains limited.  On the one hand, because it is not possible to pass on the costs of heterogeneous waste according to the polluter-pays principle and high prices lead to avoidance strategies. On the other hand, the buyer of goods often does not have the subsequent disposal and the associated costs in mind. 

Ef­fects of CK­W's new elec­tri­ci­ty ta­riff mo­del for 2025

For the year 2025, the electricity provider CKW in Central Switzerland has structurally adjusted its electricity supply tariffs. On behalf of the Department of Construction, Environment and Economic Affairs of the Canton of Lucerne, Polynomics examined CKW’s new tariff model from an energy economics perspective. In doing so, it explained the various objectives of network tariff design and highlighted their sometimes conflicting effects.The expert report concludes that power-based tariffs are a possible instrument for allocating grid costs based on the cost-causation principle. The CKW tariff system takes into account the different objectives of network tariff design. However, the implementation of municipal or cantonal political goals that fall outside the legally defined mandate of the grid operator under federal law should not be pursued through the design of network usage tariffs.Link to the publication

Ba­ro­me­ter for re­ne­wa­ble ga­ses in Switz­er­land, edi­ti­on 7, April 2025

The market development of hydrogen is currently sluggish. In the international H2 ramp-up, there is a clear gap between announced targets and actual realisation. This is not least because production costs are higher than previously assumed. Our adjusted HySuiX parameters reflect these developments.Switzerland's national hydrogen strategy dispenses with targets and relies on decentralized responsibility and regional H₂ hubs. The industry is calling for additional planning security and faster approval procedures. The federal government's review of the connection to the EU hydrogen backbone is welcomed, as this is considered to be central. There is reason to hope for a generous interpretation of P&D plants that can reclaim electricity grid fees.The EU has introduced the Union database for PoS guarantees, which is changing the guarantee of origin market. In Switzerland, there is a new national HKN register, and talks are currently being held on recognizing virtually imported biomethane. In Switzerland, the Network Transformation Plan for Renewable Gases (NeG) initiative has also been launched - modelled on the German H2vorOrt initiative.The strategies for renewable gases in our neighboring countries are different:France has ambitious expansion targets for biomethane and rapidly increasing feed-in volumes. Germany, on the other hand, is focusing more on hydrogen in the long term and has no expansion target for biomethane. Switzerland has no expansion targets for renewable gases. However, biomethane feed-in will be subsidized by the federal government for the first time from this year, only to be possibly cut back again towards 2027 as a result of the austerity program.

Angebote

En­er­gy sup­p­ly

He­alth­ca­re

Fi­nan­cial sec­tor

Me­dia and te­le­com­mu­ni­ca­ti­ons

Com­pe­ti­ti­on eco­no­mics

Re­gu­la­to­ry eco­no­mics and re­gu­la­to­ry im­pact ana­ly­sis

Eco­no­mic po­li­cy ana­ly­ses

Da­ta ana­ly­sis

Bench­mar­king / Ef­fi­ci­en­cy ana­ly­sis

Cos­ting and pri­cing

Pre­fe­rence me­a­su­re­ment / Dis­crete choice ex­pe­ri­ment