EKZ

What EKZ does

EKZ (Elektrizitätswerke des Kantons Zürich) is a public-law institution (öffentlich-rechtliche Anstalt) wholly owned by the Canton of Zurich, founded in 1908 and operating as the primary electricity distribution utility for approximately one million customers across the Canton. It runs the physical distribution network at 99.997% availability and supplies electricity from 100% renewable sources. Beyond basic supply, EKZ is a vertically integrated energy provider offering turnkey Komplettlösungen (complete solutions) — solar PV, battery storage, heat pumps (air-to-water, ground-source, water-to-water), EV charging, district heating, and energy consulting — across residential, commercial, and municipal segments.

The technological core is the EKZ Energiemanager, a home energy management system that monitors solar production and automatically steers energy flows between heat pumps, boilers, EV chargers, and battery storage using OCCP 1.6/2.0 and Smart Grid Ready protocols. Supporting infrastructure includes dynamic load management software for grid balancing, a Grid Cockpit planning tool for smaller utilities, and the use of eco-efficient g3 insulation gas in new substations (Dielsdorf, Opfikon). In 2026, EKZ launched Switzerland's first dynamic electricity and grid usage tariff, enabling time-of-day pricing that the Energiemanager automatically optimizes against. The subsidiary EKZ Eltop handles installation services.

EKZ earns revenue primarily through regulated grid tariffs (recovering CHF 2M/week of grid capex), supplemented by project-based renewable energy installations (fixed-price offers), 30-year energy contracting (Sorglos-Paket) for commercial real estate, district heating subscriptions, and professional energy advisory services. Go-to-market combines direct sales teams, regional network offices (Netzregionen), the myEKZ customer portal, the online shop, and the Blue Magazine content platform. The company employs 5,001–10,000 people, of which 10% are apprentices, and is led by CEO Urs Rengel and CFO Thomas Altenburger.

Name

EKZ

Legal name

Elektrizitätswerke des Kantons Zürich

Website

https://ekz.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1908

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

EKZ is the publicly owned electric utility of the Canton of Zurich, serving approximately one million customers with electricity distribution, solar PV, heat pumps, battery storage, EV charging, district heating, and energy management services for residential, commercial, and municipal segments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Utility Services

NAICS

Electric Power Distribution (221122), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Electric & Other Services Combined (4931)

akta.pro primary industry

Investor-Owned Electric Distribution Utilities (IOUs) (EUADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

EV Charging Infrastructure IoT & Smart Charging (V1G/V2G) (EUADAPAH), Home Energy & EV Charging (HEMS, Smart Meters, Batteries, Chargers) (HSAPAQAF), EV Charging Network Management & Software Services (CPMS, Monitoring, Billing) (TLAKAMAG)

Keywords

• Electricity distribution
• Renewable energy solutions
• Heat pump systems
• Solar PV installation
• EV charging infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Electricity Distribution and Supply: EKZ distributes and supplies electricity to approximately one million customers in the Canton of Zurich. As a public utility (publicly-owned energy company), it provides basic supply services, tariff management, and grid access to residential, commercial, and municipal customers.
2. Renewable Energy Systems (Solar, Heat Pump, Battery Storage): EKZ sells and installs solar photovoltaic systems, heat pumps (air-water, ground-source, water-water), and battery storage systems for residential and commercial customers. Services include full project management from planning through commissioning, permit handling, and subsidy application support.
3. Energy Contracting: EKZ operates as a general contractor providing turnkey energy systems for commercial real estate (e.g., multi-family buildings, commercial estates). EKZ finances, builds, operates, and maintains the systems; customers pay via a long-term (e.g., 30-year) contracting package. Covers PV, heat pumps, and combined systems.
4. District Heating (Fernwärme): EKZ develops and operates district heating networks, including lake-water heat pump systems (e.g., Berlingen, Aubrugg) supplying climate-friendly heat to residential neighborhoods.
5. Grid Infrastructure Services: EKZ invests heavily in the physical expansion and digitalization of the electricity distribution network. Revenue is recovered through regulated grid tariffs. EKZ invests approximately CHF 2 million per week in network expansion.
6. Energy Advisory Services: EKZ offers energy consulting services to both residential and commercial customers (e.g., Kantonsspital Winterthur), analyzing energy efficiency opportunities, optimization potential, and sustainability improvements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

EKZ is the publicly owned energy utility of the Canton of Zurich, distributing electricity to approximately one million residential, commercial, and municipal customers. The company sells, installs, and services integrated renewable energy systems including solar PV, battery storage, heat pumps, and EV charging infrastructure, and operates the EKZ Energiemanager — a proprietary home energy management system that automates load shifting in response to dynamic tariffs.

Product overview

EKZ (Elektrizitätswerke des Kantons Zürich) is a Swiss energy utility offering a broad integrated portfolio of energy products and services for residential, commercial, and municipal customers. The core portfolio centers on three interlocking product lines: heat pump systems (Wärmepumpen) for heating and cooling across air-to-water, ground-source (brine-to-water via boreholes), and water-to-water configurations; solar PV systems (Solaranlagen) for electricity generation, optionally bundled with battery storage and the EKZ Energiemanager for self-consumption optimization; and EV charging solutions (Elektromobilität) including wallboxes and charging management. These are unified under 'Komplettlösungen' (complete turnkey solutions) — a single-contract, fixed-price offering that bundles hardware, installation, permits, and ongoing maintenance. Supporting services include the EKZ-Energieberatung (energy consulting with EMS optimization studies), the myEKZ customer portal, the EKZ-Onlineshop, the Energieassistent digital tool, and the EKZ Energiemanager (home energy management system) which acts as the central intelligence layer, automatically steering flexible loads via OCCP and Smart Grid Ready protocols to maximize self-consumption and respond to dynamic tariffs. In 2026, EKZ introduced a dynamic electricity tariff (Dynamischer Wahltarif) that varies by time of day, with the Energiemanager automatically shifting loads to cheaper windows. The overall architecture is best described as a platform (the EKZ Energiemanager) plus modular add-on products (solar, heat pumps, EV charging, batteries, dynamic tariffs).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electricity Distribution and Supply Basic supply and grid-based electricity delivery to residential, commercial, and municipal customers in the Canton of Zurich, using 100% renewable sources and recovering costs through regulated grid tariffs.
• Heat Pump Systems Turnkey installation and servicing of heat pumps in air-to-water, brine-to-water (ground-source via boreholes), and water-to-water configurations for single-family homes, multi-family buildings, and commercial properties. EKZ acts as general contractor covering planning, permits, installation, commissioning, and subsidy applications.
• Solar PV Systems with Battery Storage Design and installation of photovoltaic solar arrays for residential and commercial buildings, often bundled with battery storage. A reference installation combines a 35-module, 16.5 kWp PV array with a 21 kWh battery and an air-to-water heat pump.
• EKZ Energiemanager (Energy Management System) Central home energy management software that monitors solar production and automatically steers energy flows between household devices, heat pumps, EV chargers, and batteries to maximize self-consumption. Supports OCCP 1.6/2.0 for EV charging and Smart Grid Ready-labeled devices. Offered as a subscription bundled with EKZ solar packages.
• Komplettlösungen (Complete Energy Solutions) Turnkey fixed-price energy packages for single-family homes, multi-family buildings, and commercial properties that bundle solar, battery storage, heat pumps, and EV charging under one contract with permit handling, installation, and ongoing maintenance.
• EV Charging Solutions EV charging infrastructure including wallboxes, the EKZ-Lademanagement charging management system for parking facilities, and installation services for residential and commercial properties. Integrates with the EKZ Energiemanager via OCCP 1.6/2.0 and supports bidirectional charging.
• EKZ-Energieberatung (Energy Consulting) Energy advisory and consulting services for residential and commercial customers, including energy management system (EMS) optimization studies, building energy assessments, heat pump feasibility studies, and subsidy guidance.
• Energy Contracting Turnkey general-contractor energy solutions for commercial real estate (multi-family buildings, commercial estates) under long-term (e.g., 30-year) contracting arrangements. EKZ finances, builds, operates, and maintains PV, heat pump, and combined systems; the customer pays a contracted service fee.
• Dynamischer Wahltarif (Dynamic Choice Tariff) Dynamic electricity and grid usage tariff launched in 2026 where prices vary by time of day, quarter, and renewable availability. Benefits flexible consumers such as EV owners, heat pump operators, and battery storage users.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.997% supply availability — customers experience on average ~15 minutes of interrupted supply per year
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• AMZ Racing Team (ETH Zürich)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026EKZ has been main sponsor of the AMZ (Academic Motorsports Club Zürich) Racing Team of ETH Zürich for four consecutive years. The partnership supports the development of a new electric racing car each year, combining cutting-edge engineering with practical application. The 2026 'nera' vehicle was unveiled at EKZ's Dietikon site on May 19, 2026, demonstrating both manual and autonomous (driverless) capabilities. The partnership serves as a key platform for EKZ to position itself as an innovative employer and engage with young engineering talent.
• ETH ZürichflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEKZ maintains targeted university partnerships with ETH Zürich to promote research, innovation, and early engagement with talented students. The collaboration focuses on areas aligned with EKZ's core competencies: electrification, decarbonization, and digital transformation. Lukas Mona, a former AMZ project participant, transitioned from an ETH robotics study program to a Business Technology Engineer role at EKZ, illustrating direct talent pipeline outcomes.
• ZHAW (Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of EKZ's university engagement strategy, the partnership with ZHAW enables collaboration on applied research and development in areas relevant to EKZ's energy transition activities, particularly in digital technologies and engineering.
• Hochschule Luzern (HSLU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of EKZ's university engagement strategy alongside ETH Zürich and ZHAW. Collaboration enables early access to engineering and technology students and supports innovation projects in electrification and digital transformation.
• Swiss ClimatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEKZ compensates greenhouse gas emissions through Swiss Climate projects, with a preference for sector-adjacent initiatives such as renewable electricity generation. Current compensation projects are located in Canton Zurich and Bulgaria.
• Amt für Abfall, Wasser, Energie und Luft (AWEL) des Kantons ZürichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEKZ cooperates with the AWEL (Office for Waste, Water, Energy and Air) of Canton Zurich for the maintenance and ecological management of the approximately 3 km riverbank section along the Sihl near the Waldhalde hydropower plant. This partnership fulfills a historical cantonal concession requiring the path to be 'permanently accessible and safe.'
• ewz (Elektrizitätswerk der Stadt Zürich)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerEKZ and ewz (Zurich's city-owned energy utility) jointly run the 'Team Power' (Komm ins Team Power) cross-employer campaign to recruit career changers as network electricians. The partnership won the industry award in the 'Talente' (Talent) category, demonstrating its effectiveness as a joint employer branding initiative.
• Fachverband Wärmepumpen Schweiz (FWS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEKZ works with the Swiss Heat Pump Association (FWS) which sets quality standards for heat pump installation and operation. EKZ ensures installations meet the WPSM (Wärmepumpen-System-Modul) quality standard established by FWS, including a third-year inspection.
• SwissgridcoreTechnology or IntegrationEKZ works with Swissgrid, Switzerland's transmission system operator, to coordinate grid operations, frequency management, and the integration of distributed renewable energy into the national grid. Swissgrid is responsible for maintaining the 50 Hz grid frequency across Switzerland.
• Google Ireland Limited / Google LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationEKZ's website uses multiple Google services including Google Analytics (for visitor behavior analysis), Google Tag Manager (tag management), Google Ads (paid search/marketing), Google Marketing Platform, Google reCAPTCHA (security), and Google Maps (location services). Data processing includes standard contractual clauses and EU-U.S./Swiss-U.S. Data Privacy Framework certifications.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ewz (Elektrizitätswerk der Stadt Zürich): Municipal utility of the City of Zurich and EKZ's direct local counterpart, jointly running the 'Team Power' recruitment campaign. Operates electricity distribution, telecom, and increasingly integrated renewable/electrification services in an overlapping Canton of Zurich footprint.
• BKW Energie AG: Swiss integrated energy company with generation, distribution, and energy solutions for residential and commercial customers. Comparable in offering renewable supply, energy contracting, and smart-grid/digitalization services across multiple Swiss cantons.
• Axpo Holding AG: Switzerland's largest producer of renewable energy and a major distribution/supply player. Comparable in Swiss grid operations, renewable generation, and integrated customer solutions including solar, heat pumps, and EV charging.
• Alpiq Holding AG: Swiss energy producer and supplier with end-customer electricity, heat-pump, and solar offerings. Comparable as a vertically integrated Swiss utility serving residential, commercial, and municipal customers with renewable supply.
• Energie Wasser Bern (ewb): Municipal utility of Bern offering electricity, heating, water, and integrated energy services including solar and heat pumps. Comparable vertically integrated municipal-utility model with district heating and energy contracting for commercial customers.
• Industrielle Werke Basel (IWB): Public utility of Basel providing electricity, heat, water, and telecom with a strong focus on renewable supply and decarbonization. Comparable model combining regulated distribution, district heating, and customer-facing renewable solutions.

Regional players

• Repower AG: Swiss energy company with generation, grid, and end-customer supply focused on Graubünden and Eastern Switzerland. Comparable in renewable supply and end-customer energy services, but operating in a different canton footprint from EKZ.

Broad incumbents

• EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG: Large German integrated utility with grid, renewable generation, EV charging networks, and smart-home/heat-pump offerings. Comparable breadth of integrated energy solutions and grid investment program, though at materially larger scale.
• E.ON SE: Major European utility operating distribution networks, customer energy solutions (solar, heat pumps, EV charging, smart home) across multiple countries. Comparable in the integrated grid-to-customer-stack model and the strategic emphasis on home energy management.

Others

• Solar-Info-Center / Helion (Swissolar member installers network): Swissolar is the Swiss solar industry association; private installer members are EKZ's direct competitors in PV and heat-pump installation within the Canton of Zurich. Useful for understanding EKZ Eltop's competitive set in non-wires services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ekz-126293277440104
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ekz
• Instagraminstagram.com/ekz_ch
• TikToktiktok.com/@ekz_ch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EKZ