Electricity cuts lasting several hours are predicted this winter in Switzerland, according to Laurianne Altwegg, vice president of the Federal Electricity Commission. This winter we should ensure we have enough candles and wood for a wood stove for those who have one, advised Altwegg in an interview with RTS. Outages may not occur, but it […]
Exceptionally heavy rain hits parts of Switzerland
After a long dry spell, skies opened in parts of Switzerland on 17 August 2022, reported RTS. 24-hour rainfall reached as high as 90 mm in parts of Ticino, in Switzerland’s Italian-speaking region. On Wednesday and Thursday evenings, thunderstorms brought heavy rain, wind and hail to certain parts of Switzerland, reported SRF. Hardest hit were […]
Covid and Ukraine aid push Switzerland’s deficit deeper into the red in 2022
On 17 August 2022, Switzerland’s government announced a new net spending estimate for 2022 showing a deficit of CHF 5 billion, more than double the budget deficit of CHF 2.3 billion announced in December 2021. The two main drivers of the higher estimated loss for 2022 are higher spending related to the Covid-19 pandemic (+3.2 […]
Abandoned animal numbers rising in French-speaking Switzerland
After a two-year lull the number of abandoned animals is on the rise, according to animal protection organisations in French-speaking Switzerland, reported RTS. Animal adoptions rose during the Covid-19 pandemic. But as people have transitioned back to normal life the number of abandoned animals has risen and the number in refuges is rising again, particularly […]
Swiss health premiums set for sharp rise in 2023
Swiss health insurance premiums are set to rise sharply in 2023, according to a new study. Price rises could reach close to 10% in some cantons. On average premiums across the country are expected to jump at least 5.4%, according to a study published by Accenture, reported RTS. One of the reasons behind the rises […]
Ukrainian refugees struggling to find accommodation in Switzerland
Many of the 60,000 Ukrainian refugees arriving in Switzerland found accommodation in Swiss homes. Now more and more are seeking independent accommodation and are facing the same challenges faced by others arriving in Switzerland: vacant homes are rare and very expensive. In a typical year net migration into Switzerland is around 50,000. The number of […]
Swiss dam dumping water during drought and energy shortage
A dam in Switzerland is releasing huge quantities of water despite widespread drought conditions and hose bans across Switzerland, reported Blick. The Gibidum reservoir and dam in the canton of Valais has a problem that much of the rest of the country would like to have: too much water. The dam that contains the lake’s […]
Hydro electricity industry accused of record fish deaths in Switzerland
High temperatures, a lack of precipitation and competition for water from hydroelectricity is killing record numbers of fish is Switzerland, reported RTS. According to the Swiss Fishing Federation (SFF), we are currently witnessing fish mortality at a historic level with some species facing the threat of extinction. Across the Swiss plateau and the southern side […]
Portable electric heaters may face ban in Switzerland
After a steep rise in gas and heating oil prices, portable electric heaters have been flying of the shelves in Switzerland. However, with a squeeze on electricity production there are fears these extra heaters might destabilise the power grid, reported the newspaper Tagesanzeiger. Portable electric heater sales are up 300% compared to last year, according […]
Swiss hospitals close to overload
Swiss hospital workers hoping to be able to regain their breath after the Covid pandemic are faced with a difficult reality. Swiss hospitals are close to saturation due to a severe shortage of staff, reported RTS. A Swiss labour market survey published this week shows the severity of the shortage. 3,000 vacant hospital positions were […]
