Act on a Secure Electricity Supply from Renewable Energy Sources

1. Basel-Stadt✓ Yes majority, Yes share 76.2%, Turnout 50%
2. Geneva✓ Yes majority, Yes share 75.2%, Turnout 46%
3. Vaud✓ Yes majority, Yes share 73.5%, Turnout 45%
4. Zurich✓ Yes majority, Yes share 72.2%, Turnout 47%
5. Bern✓ Yes majority, Yes share 70.8%, Turnout 45%
6. Lucerne✓ Yes majority, Yes share 70.7%, Turnout 45%
7. Ticino✓ Yes majority, Yes share 70.0%, Turnout 50%
8. Neuchâtel✓ Yes majority, Yes share 69.4%, Turnout 43%
9. Zug✓ Yes majority, Yes share 68.0%, Turnout 53%
10. Fribourg✓ Yes majority, Yes share 67.1%, Turnout 43%
11. Nidwalden✓ Yes majority, Yes share 66.3%, Turnout 48%
12. Solothurn✓ Yes majority, Yes share 66.2%, Turnout 44%
13. St. Gallen✓ Yes majority, Yes share 65.9%, Turnout 43%
14. Graubünden✓ Yes majority, Yes share 65.2%, Turnout 42%
15. Valais✓ Yes majority, Yes share 64.2%, Turnout 44%
16. Aargau✓ Yes majority, Yes share 63.6%, Turnout 43%
17. Schaffhausen✓ Yes majority, Yes share 63.4%, Turnout 66%
18. Thurgau✓ Yes majority, Yes share 63.0%, Turnout 43%
19. Basel-Landschaft✓ Yes majority, Yes share 62.3%, Turnout 47%
20. Obwalden✓ Yes majority, Yes share 61.4%, Turnout 48%
21. Uri✓ Yes majority, Yes share 60.7%, Turnout 35%
22. Glarus✓ Yes majority, Yes share 60.5%, Turnout 42%
23. Jura✓ Yes majority, Yes share 60.1%, Turnout 42%
24. Appenzell Ausserrhoden✓ Yes majority, Yes share 60.1%, Turnout 49%
25. Appenzell Innerrhoden✓ Yes majority, Yes share 58.3%, Turnout 41%
26. Schwyz✓ Yes majority, Yes share 57.0%, Turnout 49%

✓ Yes majority · ✗ No majority · Turnout %

Sources: Federal Statistical Office (FSO); older votes: Swissvotes, Année Politique Suisse, University of Bern; map base: FSO, GEOSTAT

Cantons by their majority language: Fribourg and Valais count as French-speaking, Bern and Graubünden as German-speaking.

Yes or no?

What exactly is it about?

In winter, Switzerland relies on electricity imports. These are not always possible to the same extent, partly because of international conflicts, and European countries themselves need more electricity. This could lead to shortages. In autumn 2023 Parliament therefore passed the Act on a Secure Electricity Supply from Renewable Energy Sources. It amends the Energy Act and the Electricity Supply Act. A referendum was launched against it, among others by the Fondation Franz Weber and the Verband Freie Landschaft Schweiz (Free Landscape Association). The act contains support instruments and new rules for the production, transport, storage and use of electricity. Financial contributions for solar systems on roofs and facades continue. Easier planning conditions apply to wind power plants and large solar plants in suitable areas, which the cantons designate, and to 16 hydropower plants named in the act. In especially protected areas, no new plants may in principle be built, with some new exceptions. Operators of larger hydropower plants must hold back water for the cold months and are compensated for it. In a referendum against a law, the majority of voters decides. The Federal Council and Parliament recommend a yes.

What is disputed?

The referendum committee argues that the law makes it easier to clear forests and allows landscapes to be spoiled and protected biotopes to be destroyed. It also says the law limits the say of the people, cantons and municipalities, because local resistance to projects could become harder to assert. It sees alternatives: the potential for solar systems on existing buildings and infrastructure should be used first. The Federal Council and Parliament argue that solar systems on buildings offer the greatest potential and that the act makes it easier to build important plants quickly, which reduces dependence on imports. They state that in especially protected areas no new plants may in principle be built, and that for hydropower the act relies on projects on which environmental organisations agreed in principle. They add that votes on specific projects remain possible.

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