Fees on the Swiss Hydroelectric Production: Significance and the Possibility of a Quality-Adjusted Design

Bedeutung der Wasserzinse in der Schweiz und Möglichkeit einer räumlichen Differenzierung

Investigators

Prof. Massimo Filippini, Dr. Silvia Banfi, Cornelia Luchsinger, Dr. Adrian Müller

Time Frame
9/2001-8/2003

Funding
Water Power Interest Group (Interessengruppe Wasserkraft), Conference of the Alpine Cantons (Regierungskonferenz der Gebirgskantone), Swiss Federal Office for Water and Geology (Bundesamt für Wasser und Geologie), Swiss Federal Office for Energy ( Bundesamt für Energie)

Abstract
In view of market liberalization, hydropower plants need to reduce their costs in order to remain competitive. One cost element is represented by water fees paid by the producers for the use of the resource "water power". The Investigation focuses on defining the site quality factors of power plants and on determining their economic rent. The economic rent of the different plants will be determined by these site-dependent factors. Based on this estimated economic rent, a new, quality-adjusted system in pricing the resource "water power" will be proposed. Finally, an evaluation of the impact of this new system on the public revenue and on the power plants is undertaken.

Executive Summary [deutsch, français, italiano, 16 kB]

Summary (in German) [pdf, 64 kB]