BKW is active in competitive markets and also operates a regulated electricity distribution grid as part of its Power Grid business area. Article 10 of the Electricity Supply Act requires grid operations to be independent. It prohibits cross-subsidisation between grid operations and other areas of activity, protects commercially sensitive information relating to grid operations, and requires the distribution system to be separated from other activities at least for accounting purposes. BKW meets these requirements through legal, organisational, accounting and technical measures.
Clear organisation and responsibilities
Within BKW Energie AG, the Power Grid business area is organisationally separated from the Energy Markets and Energy Production business areas. The business areas have their own management structures, operational responsibilities, employees and processes. Group-wide costs for shared services (such as central IT, cyber security and HR) are allocated according to uniform, documented criteria defined in accordance with regulatory requirements.
The Building Solutions, Engineering and Infra Services business areas are organised into legally independent corporate groups and are therefore completely separate from the grid area.
Separate accounting and transparent cost allocation
The regulated distribution system area is managed in a separate accounting area. Costs, revenues and assets are recorded separately or allocated based on documented criteria. Services provided between the regulated grid area and other business areas are charged on a cost-reflective basis in accordance with the arm’s length principle. In this way, BKW creates transparency with regard to the costs allocated to the grid and ensures compliance with the prohibition on cross-subsidisation.
BKW publishes separate regulatory annual financial statements for its distribution system each year.
Protection of sensitive data and neutral customer contact
Commercially sensitive grid, customer and measurement data is only accessible to employees who need it to perform their duties in grid operations. Access rights within the distribution system area are granted on a need-to-know basis. BKW’s competitive areas do not have access to this data. This data is not used for customer acquisition or tender preparation in competitive areas.
Data is provided to electricity suppliers in accordance with the same industry standards and processes – regardless of whether the supplier is a BKW company or an external supplier. Customer enquiries relating to regulated and competitive activities are handled within separate areas of responsibility. Contacts from the regulated area are not used to promote or broker BKW services offered on competitive markets.
Binding rules, training and monitoring
A binding Group-wide directive governs compliance with the unbundling requirements. Employees in affected roles receive regular training. Legal & Compliance advises on questions relating to the use of data and reviews new communication measures in the regulated area.
Potential breaches can be reported via the compliance system or the BKW Integrity Line. The unbundling measures are reviewed and further developed in the event of regulatory, organisational or technical changes.
Transparency and regulatory oversight
BKW provides the Swiss Federal Electricity Commission (ElCom) with the regulatory information required by law. ElCom may request additional information and review the cost calculations.