What is a ZEV?
Self-consumption association
A self-consumption association (ZEV) lets several parties in a building share the solar power from their own roof – and the owner bills that electricity directly to the tenants.
In a ZEV, one building (or several buildings on the same plot) acts as a single end consumer towards the grid operator. The self-produced solar power is consumed internally first; only the remainder is drawn from the grid. The solar power flows through a private internal line – which is why a classic ZEV needs a shared connection point.
The owner (or an appointed property manager) handles the internal billing: measuring each party’s consumption, allocating the solar power and issuing every participant an invoice. It is precisely this effort that software like SchäferStrom takes off your hands.
At a glance
- Possible since
- 2018
- Building
- One building / plot, shared connection
- Electricity flows via
- Private internal line
- Solar tariff
- Max. 80% of the external tariff (Art. 16b EnV)
Benefits
- Higher self-consumption rate – more solar power stays in the building
- Tenants pay less for solar power than with the energy supplier
- Higher return on the solar installation for the owner
What to keep in mind
- Requires a shared connection point (often new wiring/meters)
- Tenants can decline to take part (Art. 17 EnG)
- Annual, legally compliant billing required – error-prone in Excel
How is billing handled in a ZEV?
Solar power may be charged to tenants at no more than 80% of the external standard product (flat-rate method, Art. 16b para. 2 EnV); the remaining electricity drawn from the grid is passed on separately at the actual cost (Art. 16a EnV). You can work out the permissible maximum price in seconds with our Calculate solar tariff.
Related topics
The three self-consumption models compared
Self-consumption association
A self-consumption association (ZEV) lets several parties in a building share the solar power from their own roof – and the owner bills that electricity directly to the tenants.
Learn moreVirtual self-consumption association
The virtual self-consumption association (vZEV) delivers the ZEV without new lines: since 1 January 2025, several buildings with their own connections can be combined computationally via the public grid.
Learn moreLocal electricity community
The local electricity community (LEG) goes beyond the building: since 1 January 2026, producers and consumers within the same municipality can share locally generated electricity with one another via the public grid – at a reduced grid fee.
Learn moreIs a ZEV worthwhile for small properties too?
Yes – especially there. For small apartment buildings, full-service providers are often too expensive, and Excel is error-prone. Affordable self-service software makes a ZEV economical from just a few flats.
Does every tenant have to take part in a ZEV?
For existing tenancies, a tenant can decline to take part when the ZEV is introduced and remain in the basic supply (Art. 17 para. 3 EnG). For new tenancy agreements, participation is generally envisaged.
What is the difference to the vZEV?
The classic ZEV needs a physical line and a shared connection. The virtual ZEV (vZEV, since 2025) links several connections computationally via the public grid – without a new line.
ZEV billing without spreadsheet chaos
SchäferStrom produces the legally compliant ZEV invoice with QR bill for every tenant – automatically, month after month.