# Grid operator practice model (VNB-Praxismodell)

Also known as: VNB-Praxismodell, Praxismodell VNB, VNB-Modell, Grid operator model

The VNB-Praxismodell (grid operator practice model) is an industry practice, widespread since 2014, in which the distribution grid operator (VNB) distributes a property's solar electricity to the tenants through its own meters and bills it. The tenants remain end customers of the grid operator; the system operator receives a credit for the solar electricity delivered. Unlike ZEV, vZEV and LEG, the model is not set out in any law; it rests on a contract between system operator and grid operator.

Canonical page: https://www.ampere-dynamic.ch/en/knowledge/glossary/vnb-praxismodell/

The model emerged when self-consumption of solar electricity became legal on 1 January 2014 (Art. 7 para. 2bis of the EnG at the time), while an association of several parties was not yet regulated. Distribution grid operators offered owners to allocate the building's solar electricity to tenants through the existing grid operator meters. Private lines are used; private meters are not required.

The process is lean: the grid operator's meters stay in place, the grid operator bills the solar electricity to the tenants and credits the system operator with the quantity delivered. A [billing service provider](https://www.ampere-dynamic.ch/en/knowledge/glossary/abrechnungsdienstleister/) is not needed. In return, the grid operator sets the terms, and the tenants remain its end customers.

That is exactly where the limit lies. Since 2018, a [ZEV](https://www.ampere-dynamic.ch/en/knowledge/glossary/zev/) has acted as a single end consumer towards the grid operator and sets the internal electricity price itself; since 2025, the [vZEV](https://www.ampere-dynamic.ch/en/knowledge/glossary/vzev/) extends this to several plots on the same service line. The VNB-Praxismodell remains an option for buildings with tenants and for sites where the local grid operator offers it and [self-consumption](https://www.ampere-dynamic.ch/en/knowledge/glossary/eigenverbrauch/) is to be organised without the owner's own metering infrastructure.

All four models side by side, with lines, meters, contracts and billing: [ZEV, vZEV or LEG: which model fits your site](https://www.ampere-dynamic.ch/en/knowledge/zev-vzev-leg-comparison/).

## Related terms

- [ZEV](https://www.ampere-dynamic.ch/en/knowledge/glossary/zev/)
- [vZEV](https://www.ampere-dynamic.ch/en/knowledge/glossary/vzev/)
- [LEG](https://www.ampere-dynamic.ch/en/knowledge/glossary/leg/)
- [Self-consumption](https://www.ampere-dynamic.ch/en/knowledge/glossary/eigenverbrauch/)
- [Billing service provider](https://www.ampere-dynamic.ch/en/knowledge/glossary/abrechnungsdienstleister/)