Background

Swiss Utilities

The government and private investors jointly own most utilities in Switzerland. Each canton is responsible for its own electric, gas and water utilities, with the Swiss Federal Office of Energy responsible for energy policy. The Swiss are efficient in the delivery of utility services, and while not cheap, services are generally reliable.

There is not a lot of comparison shopping you can do as far as utility companies, as one company will serve your entire canton. However, there is a much larger choice of telecommunications companies where you can decide if you would like to contract for separate telephone, TV and internet, or combine any number of these. There is a reasonable amount of competition in this area, so you are sure to find the right combination of services for your needs and budget.