The Federal Council has presented its emergency plan for a power shortage in winter. It provides for far-reaching restrictions and bans that go far into the private sphere. For example, households could only wash at a maximum of 40 degrees.
Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin informed on Wednesday about the Federal Council’s emergency plan in the event of a power shortage.
In Switzerland, a severe power shortage would be recognized by men and women walking around in crumpled blouses and shirts. As early as the second escalation stage, the Federal Council could forbid households to iron their clothes in order to save electricity. This is reminiscent of the pandemic, when the government micromanaged and dictated how many family members could sit around the Christmas tree at Christmas. Level 3 also prohibits gaming and the consumption of films, whether on DVD or via streaming services such as Netflix.
The draft ordinances sent for consultation by the Federal Council on Wednesday are far-reaching and detailed. In addition to obvious power guzzlers such as saunas and steam baths, the Federal Council also wants to ban the use of electric leaf blowers, hot water in public toilets and seat heaters in chairlifts. This already applies to the first of a total of four escalation levels. It would also no longer be possible to illuminate gardens and private paths. Likewise, private households could only wash their laundry at a maximum of 40 degrees and should not set their refrigerator colder than 6 degrees.
Economy Minister Guy Parmelin admitted to the media that the planned restrictions and bans reached far into the private sphere of the population. However, the measures would only come into effect in the event of a power shortage. Such a scenario cannot be ruled out for this winter, but it is unlikely. This was the conclusion of an analysis published by the national grid company Swissgrid at the beginning of November. According to federal experts, this assessment has not changed.
prevent worse
Parmelin also justified the interventions by saying that in this way even more serious measures should be prevented. This includes electricity quotas for 34,000 large consumers, who account for around half of Switzerland’s electricity consumption. This would result in major economic damage. However, the operation of infrastructures that supply the country with essential goods and services should be ensured. For this reason, the Federal Council allows quotas to be passed on flexibly.
Even worse than quotas would be network shutdowns for a few hours, which, according to the Minister for Economic Affairs, must be avoided at all costs. They should only come into play when a blackout can no longer be averted in any other way. Essential service providers such as hospitals, water suppliers and blue light organizations could only be exempted from the shutdowns in isolated cases for technical reasons.
Similar to gas, the measures for electricity would also be gradually tightened depending on the situation. If there are signs of a power shortage, the Federal Council would first urge all consumers to save. At the same time, he could already restrict or ban the use of systems that are not absolutely necessary. This includes the operation of private saunas or radiant heaters.
Then follow further bans and restrictions from the detailed lists of escalation levels 1 to 4. These are structured in such a way that the restrictions initially lead to a loss of comfort and are intended to spare the economy as much as possible. Lighting, neon signs or minibars in hotels would be affected, for example. If the situation worsens, the operation of swimming pools, ice rinks, arcades and casinos would be banned. It is only in this stage 4 that snow-making systems and ski lifts are no longer allowed to run. This is also a parallel to the pandemic, when practically all shops and restaurants were temporarily closed, but ski facilities and terraces were exempt.
As with the Covid ordinances, the comprehensive set of rules on the power shortage also contains contradictions and inconsistencies. In level 4, when the situation is already quite dramatic, hotels are allowed to continue operating their wellness facilities. Only the operating time should be restricted – to a maximum of seven hours per day. Bastian Schwark, federal energy crisis manager, explained this to the media with considerations. It is about being able to maintain tourism in a certain form. When ski areas are closed, holidaymakers could still stay in the wellness facilities. The federal government drew up the ordinances together with the private sector.
Contradictory specifications
The maximum temperature specifications for private households are also contradictory. Last week, the Federal Council set the maximum value for buildings with gas heating at 20 degrees if gas becomes scarce. Originally 19 degrees were intended. Parmelin also gave legal reasons for the decision. We want to avoid lawsuits in court. In the case of electricity, however, the Federal Council now envisages a maximum temperature of just 18 degrees if the situation worsens. This applies to buildings heated with electric heaters and heat pumps.
The speed limit of 100 kilometers per hour on motorways is also not explained conclusively. This not only applies to electric cars, but also to petrol engines. It is justified by the fact that this saves mineral oil, which can be used for emergency power generators and dual-fuel systems. With this reasoning, the Federal Council would also have to enact maximum temperatures for buildings with oil heating. This would also lead to savings.