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The fourth largest power plant in the canton of St. Gallen is paralyzed due to a legal dispute. Conservationists are outraged.
The water from the Chapfensee above Mels (SG) flows unused into a stream. The reason for this is a defective pressure line. Several construction companies are arguing about who pays for the damage caused by a defective pressure line. According to research by the SRF program “Schweiz aktuell”, the dispute has been going on for over a year.
The electricity company cannot repair the line itself, because otherwise the warranty against defects will expire.
“After the renovation of the building, it was found that the pressure line had a water leak,” says Markus Zai, manager of the Mels power station. “We tried to find a solution with the entrepreneurs involved, unfortunately without result”. The case is now before the Commercial Court.
Power station’s hands are tied
The electricity company now has to buy the electricity for 5,500 households, which corresponds to around 20,000 people, at a high price. It cannot repair the line itself. “The guarantee of defects would be invalid,” says Managing Director Markus Zai.
Conservationists outraged
Conservationists are angry. «In the looming energy crisis, people want to build solar and wind power plants in nationally important landscapes. Here you have an infrastructure and you don’t use it,” says Corinne Del Fabro, director of Pro Natura.
Legend:
Lake Chapfensee reservoir
SRF Switzerland News
The reservoir would produce twice as much electricity as the highly controversial solar power plant projected in 2011 on Lake Walen.
As an immediate measure, Pro Natura is demanding a loan from the federal government or the canton of St. Gallen for the repairs. The aim is for the reservoir to be connected to the grid again as quickly as possible. Anyone who pays can then be looked at.
The head of hydropower in the canton of St. Gallen waves it away. There is no checkout for this. In addition, the canton should not interfere in a private law matter. The electricity company has a loss of several million francs because it has to buy electricity at high cost. It is unclear when the court will decide.