Uri and Ticino to jointly operate the Lucendro power plant in future
The cantons of Uri and Ticino will each hold a 50 per cent stake in the Lucendro power plant in future. Ticino will be responsible for technical operation and maintenance, while Uri will be responsible for commercial management. The agreement was reached thanks to federal mediation.
The Lucendro power plant in the Gotthard region on the territory of the municipality of Airolo will be jointly operated by the cantons of Uri and Ticino in future. According to a press release, this is the result of an agreement reached on 1 November. The agreement was reached thanks to mediation by the Federal Office for the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications, which has been ongoing since 2022. According to the agreement, both cantons will each hold a 50 per cent stake in the future company, which will be based in Airolo. Uri will receive a majority share of the electricity. Technical operation and maintenance will continue to be ensured by Azienda Elettrica Ticinese(AET). Uri will take over the commercial management.
The power plant was built between 1942 and 1948 by the former Atel, which was later merged into Alpiq. in 2013, the two cantons decided not to renew Alpiq’s licence after the reversion. aET acquired the plant in 2015.
The power plant utilises water from the Gotthardreuss and Ticino rivers, which is collected in the Lucendro and Sella reservoirs. It produces around 103 gigawatt hours per year.