Price supervisor (Switzerland)
| Preisüberwacher Surveillant des prix Sorvegliante dei prezzi | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1973 |
| Jurisdiction | Swiss federal administration |
| Headquarters | Bern, Switzerland |
| Employees | 20 (approx.) |
| Agency executive |
|
| Parent department | Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research |
| Key document |
|
| Website | www |
The Price Supervisor (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist., Script error: The function "langx" does not exist., informally also Monsieur Prix, Script error: The function "langx" does not exist., Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) is the official in Switzerland responsible for monitoring prices based on the Price Supervision Act (PrSA).[1] The office is administratively assigned to the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research.[2]
Tasks and organization
The Price Supervisor's tasks are divided into three areas:
Price monitoring
The Price Supervisor monitors prices that are not determined by free competition but are set by dominant companies, cartels, or the state.[1] This includes, for example, fees for radio and television, public transport tariffs, the most important postal rates, water, wastewater and waste prices of municipalities, chimney sweep, gas and telecommunications prices, medicine prices, hospital and doctor tariffs.[2]
Prevention of abusive price increases and price maintenance
The Price Supervisor protects consumers and the economy from excessive prices due to a lack of competition. If an abuse is identified, the Price Supervisor seeks an amicable settlement.[1] Depending on the situation, options include a price reduction, a reduced price increase, or a postponement of a price increase. These settlements are time-limited.[2]
In extreme cases, the Price Supervisor can enforce his views by official order. Such an order can be appealed to the Federal Administrative Court and subsequently to the Federal Supreme Court.[1]
If prices are set by political authorities, the Price Supervisor's competence is limited to the right to make a recommendation.[1]
Informing the public
According to legal requirements, the Price Supervisor must inform the public about his activities.[1]
Organization
Approximately 20 employees work in price monitoring, filling about 16 full-time positions (as of 2022). The office is divided into the following sub-units:[2]
- Price Monitoring[2]
- Office of the Price Supervisor[2]
- Health Department[2]
- EPT Department (Energy, Post and Telecommunications)[2]
- ÖWAB Department (Public Transport, Water/Wastewater, Banks/Insurance)[2]
- Market Observation Unit[2]
- Information and Legal Services[2]
History
Price monitoring as counter-cyclical policy
In 1972, Switzerland suffered from an overheating economy. To dampen it, the National Council and Council of States decided on various measures, including the monitoring of prices, wages, and profits through a federal regulation of December 20th, 1972.[2]
For wages and profits, the Price Supervisor's authority was limited to observing developments, initiating surveys, and conducting discussions. In the area of prices, his powers were more extensive; he had the ability to reduce prices. This authority was limited only in the areas of fiscal charges and land prices.[1]
Because this regulation was based on extra-constitutional emergency law, it came into force on the day of the decision. It was limited until the end of 1975.[2]
In 1975, due to persistently high inflation rates, Parliament decided to continue price monitoring until the end of 1978 with altered competences. The monitoring of wages and profits was no longer part of the Price Supervisor's tasks, and price monitoring was also restricted to specific subject areas and economic sectors.[2]
Price monitoring as protection against abuse
In 1979, shortly after price monitoring expired under the federal regulation, consumer organizations from the German, French, and Italian-speaking parts of Switzerland submitted a popular initiative to prevent abusive prices.[1] The initiative demanded provisions for monitoring prices and price recommendations for goods and services. Consumer advocates specifically targeted dominant companies and cartels.[2]
Parliament and the Federal Council presented a counter-proposal to the population in addition to the initiative, which provided for price monitoring only in times of high inflation. The vote took place on November 28th, 1982.[2] The counter-proposal was surprisingly clearly rejected with 65.3 percent No, but the initiative was accepted with a relatively good 56.1 percent Yes votes from the people and the cantons.[3]
The Price Supervision Act (PüG, SR 942.20) was enacted on December 20th, 1985 and revised in 1991. Since 1991, all prices set by cartels and dominant companies under public and private law are subject to the Price Supervisor.[2]
With the entry into force of the Electricity Supply Act on January 1st, 2008, the competence for reviewing electricity tariffs and network usage charges in the electricity sector passed to the Electricity Commission.[4]
Legal basis
The legal basis for the office is the Price Supervision Act (PrSA) of 20 December 1985.[1]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 "SR 942.20 Price Supervision Act of 20 December 1985 (PrSA)". Retrieved 14 April 2019.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 "Organisation". Federal Administration, WBF, Price Supervision PUE. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ↑ "Popular vote of 28 November 1982". Swiss Federal Chancellery. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2006.
- ↑ "Report: Select Committee on Electricity Prices" (Press release). Parliament of Australia. 1 November 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
External links
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