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SVP Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin presented five ordinances. Another one for public transport will follow.
Ruedi StuderBundeshaus Editor
Everyone knows that electricity could be scarce, but those who are supposed to limit themselves have a hard time. Let the others save. SVP Economics Minister Guy Parmelin (63) has already given five regulations on the lack of electricity for consultation. They provide plenty of material for discussion.
And already another electricity ordinance is in preparation. This is aimed at public transport companies. Public transport is explicitly excluded from the quota ordinance, while other large consumers, for example from industry, have to save part of their electricity consumption in an emergency.
A separate ordinance is now to regulate how supply-relevant public transport – including freight transport – can be maintained in the event of a power shortage. The goal: to continue the public transport offer to a certain extent and at the same time ensure “that the overarching savings target is achieved,” says the draft discussion paper. This is shown by the internal administration office consultation from autumn on the electricity management measures, which Blick based on the Public Information Act.
Frown in Bazl
But this public transport extra sausage causes frowns in the Federal Office for Civil Aviation (Bazl). The sole prioritization of public transport “seems a bit random and does not open up to us,” says the Bazl in its statement.
“The timetable of empty regional trains can very well be reduced without damage,” the office added, not entirely without sarcasm. Because: “As Corona has shown, the frequencies of public transport can generally be reduced very significantly without any noticeable economic and social damage.” For example, when home office would be used more again to save energy.
The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) is also questioning why there should only be an industry solution for public transport. “Shouldn’t telecommunications services, for example, also develop a similar industry concept to ensure the services?”
Work is still “in progress”
But why should there be an extra sausage for public transport? The demand at the leading Federal Office for National Economic Supply (BWL) brings nothing illuminating: “The work is in progress,” explains a BWL spokesman.
The ordinance is based on a management model that the SBB developed together with the Association of Public Transport (VöV) and the Federal Office of Transport. But that doesn’t shed any light either, because this model will remain under lock and key for the time being.
Voluntary measures already apply to the public transport sector. So she is not obliged to lower the temperatures in the trains, buses and trams. Nor are they forced to do without facade and decorative lighting.
If, on the other hand, the power supply situation deteriorates, more drastic measures should be taken. “Among other things, this involves planning for a possible adjustment of the transport offer or the prioritization of certain transports that are important for the national supply”, the VöV outlines the thrust on its homepage.
Thin out timetable
“In the worst case, we have to thin out the timetable,” explains VöV director Ueli Stückelberger to Blick. At the same time, one must also determine in which cases the power supply remains unavoidable. “The switches, for example, must be supplied with electricity so that they work.”
He also explains why a separate electricity ordinance makes sense for public transport. “Public transport is an overall system that interacts and has to play well together,” says Stückelberger. And above all: “We produce most of our electricity ourselves with our own power plants.”
Albert Rosti: “We have to expand electricity production quickly”(00:42)