Electricity prices in Switzerland will fall slightly in 2027; academic performance of Swiss students is among the best globally; and more news in our roundup this Wednesday.
Swiss electricity prices will fall slightly in 2027
Electricity will cost less next year – the third consecutive year of price drops.
They will fall by 4 percent on average compared to 2026, the Federal Electricity Commission (ElCom) announced on Tuesday.
This means that an average household consuming 4,500 kWh will pay 1,194 francs – 53 francs less than this year.
Academic performance of Swiss students is among the best globally
Fifteen-year-olds in Switzerland demonstrate strong performance in science, mathematics, and reading, according to results of the
Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) study released on Tuesday.
The study, carried out by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), compares educational performance and skills of 15-year-old students across more than 100 countries.
It found that in science, Swiss students scored 501 points, compared to an OECD average of 482.
In mathematics, they scored 499 points, versus 463 for the OECD. And In reading, Switzerland scored 470 points, compared to an average of 461.
That’s the good news. On the other hand, however, Switzerland’s overall performance level is falling, the study found.
This summer’s heatwave has led to more cases of domestic violence
Basel, where the temperature reached 39C this summer, registered 1,117 reports of domestic violence this summer – 36 percent more than in previous years.
“We cannot explain this increase, other than by the fact that extreme heat must play a role,” said Beat John, director of Victim Assistance for both Basels.
Studies have established a link between heat and violent offences, confirming that it acts as a stressor or amplifies tensions.
“We have seen firsthand just how much the heat took a toll on us, making us more irritable,” John added.
Swiss artists urge the ‘no’ vote in Vaud’s bid to reduce taxes
Voters in Vaud will cast their ballots on September 27th on a proposal to lower cantonal taxes by 12-percent in order to “restore purchasing power to the middle class,” according to the proposal’s instigators.
However, as the acceptance would mean a 272-million-franc drop in revenues each year, Swiss artists have mobilised against this measure.
The reason: when less money is flowing into state coffers, “culture is always the first sector to suffer budget cuts,” the group says.
But culture, they argue, “is not a luxury: it is a public good, a driver of cohesion and education,” therefore meriting public funding.
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