SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

ENERGY

Petrol prices fall in Switzerland — but will they continue to drop?

Switzerland’s consumers have not had any good news in months, as the cost of living has been increasing practically across all categories. But there is a positive development nevertheless.

Petrol prices fall in Switzerland — but will they continue to drop?
It costs less money now to fill up your car. Photo by Marek Studzinski on Unsplash

Swiss motorists might have noticed that the price of fuel at the pump has fallen slightly, from more than 2 francs per litre of unleaded 95 throughout the summer and at the beginning of September.

Market analysis carried out by Touring Club Suisse (TCS) motoring organisation confirms this trend.

Currently, a litre of unleaded 95 in Swiss filling stations costs on average 1.92 francs — around 15 cents less than at the beginning of September and 39 cents less than during the historic record in June.

Will this downward trend last?

For the moment, industry experts are not making any predictions, either way.

That’s because the price at the pump depends not only on the price of crude oil, but also on other factors, according to TCS.

They include — aside from geopolitical evolution in eastern Europe — transport costs, production rate, and the rate of the dollar.

Is it still cheaper to fuel up your car in neighbouring countries?

When the price of petrol exceeded 2 francs per litre in Switzerland, it made sense to buy gasoline across the border, especially when the franc gained strength against the euro in August. 

READ MORE: EXPLAINED: What the weakening euro means for Switzerland’s residents

It may still be worthwhile, depending on the country.

In Germany, for instance, a litre of unleaded 95 costs on average 1.992, which is equivalent to the new price in Switzerland, according to TCS.

On the other hand, prices are lower in Italy (1.757), Austria (1.764), and, above all, France (1.57).

This TCS chart indicates per-litre prices in all European countries, which may help you decide were to buy petrol.

As for the cost of other energy sources, it is not expected to decrease any time  soon: on the contrary, forecasts call for higher prices.

READ MORE: Swiss government confirms ‘sharp increase’ in electricity prices

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

ENERGY

Are Swiss cities cutting back on Christmas lights this year?

Cities across Switzerland cut back on festive lighting last year amid the energy crisis. We look at what's happening this year.

Are Swiss cities cutting back on Christmas lights this year?

Switzerland is a stunning place to visit during the festive period because of its bustling Christmas markets, twinkling lights, and winter weather.

But last winter, lighting was pared back significantly across many countries due to energy saving measures following Russia’s war against Ukraine. 

The Swiss government urged people to cut down on energy as much as possible due to fears over energy shortages and spiralling costs as Russia throttled supplies. 

Households and businesses were asked to turn down heating, use less hot water, cut down energy when cooking and switch off electrical devices when they weren’t in use. 

Swiss cities also announced plans to turn down heating and save electricity in public buildings, including controls on Christmas lights.

This year things look very different and the EU is no longer in the danger zone when it comes to looming energy shortages. But there are still some energy saving measures in place in Switzerland even though the government isn’t calling for them at this time. 

The city of Zurich was a pioneer in electricity saving measures last winter, announcing restrictions early on. Now Zurich has relaxed them: offices can again be heated to a temperature higher than 19C, at night churches and other monuments shine brightly.

However the City Vereinigung Zürich (Zurich City Association) is imposing some restrictions on Christmas lights. “We will refrain from switching on the Christmas lights in the morning,” Managing Director Dominique Zygmont told broadcaster SRF.

The switching on of the “Lucy” Christmas lights on Bahnofstrasse – an established tradition in Zurich – takes place at 6pm on November 23rd. They will remain in place until January 6th 2024.

READ ALSO: The Swiss Christmas markets opening in November

There are also restrictions in the city of Bern, with the Christmas light timings being regulated. The lights are to switch off at 11 pm. Reto Nause, the energy director at Bern, said some lighting events will also be cancelled. Meanwhile, street lighting will continue to be dimmed when safety permits. 

This makes ecological and financial sense, says Nause, because the price of energy is significantly higher than in previous years.

“We therefore have the impression that it is economically worthwhile to continue these savings measures,” he said.

Basel-City also wants to follow the example of last winter and has permanently adapted the regulations for administrative offices. An upper temperature limit of 20 to 21C now applies.

Mobile “Heizöfeli” or heaters and air-conditioning units are no longer allowed, nor is a personal printer at the workplace. On the other hand, the people of Basel can enjoy the Christmas lights in their full length this year – as things stand at the moment.

There will be slight restrictions on electricity consumption in other cities this year as well. However, energy is set to be less scarce in the upcoming winter compared to last year, said the Director of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, Benoît Revaz.

“Europe is better prepared than a year ago,” Revaz added in a recent report on Swiss broadcaster SRF.

Just a year ago, Revaz warned that the winter of 2023/24 would be even more difficult than the last. However, the situation is better than predicted due to the well-filled gas storage facilities in Europe, and the French nuclear power plants, of which more are running than expected.

SHOW COMMENTS