The Swiss Federal Council has decided to raise the renewable and water protection charge on retail electricity prices. As of 2014, this fee, directed at the promotion of renewable electricity (so called "Rétribution à prix coûtant", or RPC) and at water protection, will increase from its current level of FS0.45c/kWh, i.e. €0.36c/kWh, (of which FS0.35c/kWh or €0.28c/kWh for RPC and FS0.10c/kWh or €0.08c/kWh for water protection) in 2012 and 2013 to Fs0.60c/kWh, i.e. €0.49c/kWh (respectively FS0.50c/kWh, or €0.41c/kWh, for RPC and FS0.1c/kWh or €0.08c/kWh for water protection). For an average household consuming 5,000 kWh per year, the charge will increase from FS 22.50 to FS 30 (from €18 to €24).
This increase is expected to raise about FS288m to finance energy measures and FS57m to protect water. It was made necessary by the rising PV capacity, which is expected to push renewable electricity generation to 1.6 TWh in 2014 and to raise the RPC cost to FS330m (€268m).