LEC - Local Electricity Community
Is it worth setting up an LEC?
General information about the LEC
The local electricity community (LEC) is a legal model for exchanging and selling locally produced electricity over the public distribution grid within a regional perimeter.
Key features:
-
Regionality: The electricity exchange is limited to the grid area within one municipality.
-
Grid usage: Participants use parts of the grid of the distribution system operator (DSO). A reduced grid usage tariff applies for this.
-
Combinability: A ZEV (association for own consumption) or a vZEV (virtual ZEV) can be integrated into an LEC as a participant.
-
Security of supply: LEC consumers stay in the regular basic supply for their remaining electricity needs.
Tariffs and conditions
The DSO does not set the price of solar power within the LEC. The community sets it. However, the DSO charges a grid usage fee for the energy transmitted through its grid. The grid usage fee can currently be reduced by up to 40%. (As of Q1 2026)
You can find detailed information, including the VSE industry recommendation on the LEC, at: www.lokalerstrom.ch
Status at smart-me
smart-me does not currently offer any products specifically for implementing LECs. We are following how this market develops, though, and we would like to hear your ideas for applications and your feedback.
Want to talk it over? Book an appointment directly with Fabio (Product Management): https://calendar.app.google/kiwRFrwoDeXNyFRi8
