COVID-19

The COVID-19 task force was launched on 28 February. Its tasks were taken over by a fixed working group in August. This working group constantly analyses the current situation, develops scenarios and corresponding measures, and works with a pandemic emergency plan. The working group is in close contact with the competent authorities and all relevant stakeholders.

Besides ensuring the stability of the grid, employee health is a top priority for Swissgrid. Many employees are specialists in their field and are responsible for critical functions that ensure the secure operation of the transmission grid. Swissgrid was quick to introduce measures to minimise the risk of infection at the workplace. Since then, Swissgrid has gradually adapted the measures. The tight access regulations for third parties to enter Swissgrid buildings and plants are still in force.

Mobile working and home offices have been in use at Swissgrid for quite a while to provide employees with the greatest possible flexibility and work-life balance. The digitalisation of processes along with the necessary IT infrastructure is well advanced and is proving its value in the current situation – this was especially true during the lockdown. Swissgrid is constantly analysing the current situation and, in consultation with the federal government, makes decisions regarding the measures to be taken, including possibilities for flexible forms of work. Teams are split at the individual sites with the aim of preventing people with the same or similar roles from infecting each other. Swissgrid has also taken special precautions in the buildings, in particular to ensure that distance and hygiene rules are observed.

Although it was very challenging in the beginning, most of the construction projects were moving forward. Projects in the planning phase were not affected to the same extent as those in the construction phase. Precise compliance with the hygiene and distancing regulations is being monitored on all construction sites.

Service and maintenance work to ensure secure grid operation has always been continued. This includes scheduled maintenance work (incl. forest clearing, protection against corrosion) as well as unscheduled maintenance measures when infrastructure is damaged or disrupted due to external influences (incl. due to lighting strike, wind, heat, avalanche or landslides). In the latter case, it must be possible to carry out the maintenance work immediately, in consultation with grid operations management. Once again, precise compliance with the hygiene and distancing regulations is closely monitored.

To ensure stable and secure grid operation, Swissgrid relies on close cooperation with numerous domestic and international partners. Swissgrid is therefore in close contact with its partners from the Swiss electricity industry, the authorities, service providers and the transmission system operators in Europe.