In the 2022-2023 winter season, Switzerland and the European continent were facing an energy crisis with the risks of energy shortages. This was due to several issues that put together threatened the energy security in the continent.

To mitigate the risks and consequences of this energy crisis, Switzerland’s Federal Council drafted plans and ordinances to ensure electricity and gas deliveries. However, in doing so, some of the ordinances proved to have a certain negative impact, or at least sent a contradictory message to the national and local energy transition ambitions.

It was found in this thesis that the energy crisis could prove to be a “window of opportunity” for energy transition and climate change policies. However, this opportunity needs to be used sensibly to reach positive outcomes.

This analysis was carried out after an internship at the Services Industriels de Genève, the local energy distributor, in 2022. With the collaboration of six employees of the company, interviews were conducted to have a better and deeper view of the energy crisis situation and the consequences for the energy distributor and the communication strategy.

The results of the analysis showed that the Swiss plans to mitigate the risks of energy shortages are not energy transition plans. They however impact the message and the efforts to do so. It was found through a SWOT analysis that there are reals weaknesses and threats to the plans, followed by recommendations to better tailor and target information and communication to reach habits changes which would in turn result in a decrease of energy consumption and ensure a sustainable energy transition.