Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications DETEC
Switzerland’s largest Alpine solar power installation is located at the Muttsee dam in the canton of Glarus. It has been in operation since August 2022.
Roads,
rail, power and the media: DETEC assures Switzerland’s basic public services. But
it also takes care of our natural environment: woodlands,
landscape, water, air, plants and animals. DETEC pursues a climate policy that
is also beneficial for the economy.
Albert Rösti
Head of DETEC.
Member of the Federal Council since 2023.
«We need to make rapid progress in boosting domestic electricity production. This will strengthen security of supply and protect our climate.»
Priorities of the DETEC in 2023
Energy is needed for daily life. The war in Ukraine has shown how vulnerable Switzerland is if it relies too heavily on energy from abroad – on Russian gas, for example. To make our country less dependent on oil and gas, DETEC is overseeing the rapid expansion of domestic renewable energies. For example, it is working to ensure that we produce and store more electricity with hydroelectric power plants and speed up approval procedures.
In addition, due to the uncertainty surrounding the energy situation last year, DETEC, together with the Department of Economic Affairs (EAER), the cantons, the Electricity Commission and the electricity industry, immediately created a back-up for any shortfall in supply – ensuring that the country’s reservoirs are full and that it has a stock of mobile turbines to overcome shortages at short notice, for example. In addition, the Federal Council has obliged the industry to build up additional gas and storage capacities. DETEC itself is also committed to saving energy.
In opting to harness hydro and solar power, and where possible wind power, we are not only strengthening our security of supply, but also using it to produce the electricity we need to power environmentally friendly heat pumps and electric cars. It also helps us to protect our climate, one of DETEC’s other main concerns. By rapidly boosting domestic electricity production, we can benefit twice over.
Expenses 2021 (CHF)
13.36 bn
Staff (FTEs) 2021
2,433
Organisation chart DETEC
General Secretariat GS-DETEC
Secretary General: Yves Bichsel
www.uvek.admin.ch
Federal Office of Transport FOT
Director: Peter Füglistaler
www.bav.admin.ch
Federal
Office of Civil Aviation FOCA
Director: Christian Hegner
www.bazl.admin.ch
Swiss
Federal Office of Energy SFOE
Director: Benoît Revaz
www.bfe.admin.ch
Federal
Roads Office FEDRO
Director: Jürg Röthlisberger
www.astra.admin.ch
Federal
Office of Communications OFCOM
Director: Bernard Maissen
www.bakom.admin.ch
Federal
Office for the Environment FOEN
Director: Katrin Schneeberger
www.bafu.admin.ch
Federal
Office for Spatial Development ARE
Director: Maria Lezzi
www.are.admin.ch
Autonomous
organisations
Swiss
Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate ENSI
Director: Marc Kenzelmann
www.ensi.ch
Federal Inspectorate for Heavy
Current Installations ESTI
Director: Daniel Otti
www.esti.admin.ch
Swiss Transportation Safety
Investigation Board STSB
President: Pieter Zeilstra
www.sust.admin.ch
Federal Electricity Commission
ElCom
President: Werner Luginbühl
www.elcom.admin.ch
Federal Communications
Commission ComCom
President: Adrienne Corboud Fumagalli
www.comcom.admin.ch
Independent Complaints
Authority for Radio and Television ICA
President: Mascha Santschi Kallay
www.ubi.admin.ch
Federal Postal Services
Commission PostCom
President: Anne Seydoux-Christe
www.postcom.admin.ch
Rail Transport Commission RailCom
President: Patrizia Danioth Halter
www.railcom.admin.ch
