EKT

EKT (formerly Elektrizitätswerk des Kantons Thurgau) is the cantonal energy supply company of the Swiss canton of Thurgau, headquartered in Arbon. Founded on 1 January 1912 as a public-law institution, it has been responsible for the basic supply of electrical energy in the canton ever since. The operating company EKT AG is owned by EKT Holding AG, which in turn is wholly owned by the Canton of Thurgau, with the cantonal government representing the share capital. Around 200 highly qualified specialists work for EKT, and roughly 300,000 people in Thurgau rely on the company daily for energy and data services. EKT's core mandate is the secure, round-the-clock supply of electricity to the whole canton. Beyond that, it offers a broad range of products and services: electricity tariffs and products such as Thurgauer Naturstrom, energy efficiency programmes like 'Clever Strom sparen', heating solutions including district heating and wood-energy plants, photovoltaic generation, e-mobility, and data security and digital services. The company positions itself as a partner for energy, data and the future, emphasising partnership, leadership, sustainability and safety. Over the decades EKT has expanded through acquisitions and new subsidiaries. It acquired EPS Energie Pool Schweiz AG in 2021 and Kierzek AG in 2022 (rebranded NEGXT AG in 2025), and in 2025 it took over Datapark AG from Wil SG, integrating it into its Digital Services division. It has also invested in renewable generation, including a 50% stake in Wellenberg Wind AG signed in December 2023, and has founded several district heating companies. In 2022 the EKT Holding AG established the charitable EKT Energiestiftung to promote secure and sustainable energy and digitalisation in Thurgau. EKT is undergoing significant infrastructure changes: in January 2026 around 70 jobs will move from Arbon to a new operations building in Sulgen, while administrative services remain at the Arbon headquarters. The company reported a pleasing annual result for 2025 and continues to be a trusted, canton-owned utility focused on the energy transition and digitalisation.

The history of EKT begins in 1905, when the 'Elektrische Kraftversorgung Bodensee-Thurtal' (KBT) was founded in Arbon. Its purpose was to supply around 40 municipalities on the southern shore of Lake Constance and in the Thur valley from Bischofszell to Frauenfeld with 'electric power'. Because KBT's facilities extended across the cantonal borders of Thurgau, St. Gallen and Appenzell Ausserrhoden, negotiations to establish an intercantonal company failed. In 1911 the Canton of Thurgau decided to found its own cantonal company. On 1 January 1912, the Elektrizitätswerk des Kantons Thurgau was established as an independent institution under public law. By popular vote, all of KBT's facilities and energy supply contracts on Thurgau territory had previously been acquired. The business headquarters remained in Arbon. In October 2001 the company was converted into an independent stock corporation. In August 2005 the company name was shortened to EKT AG, and in September it was integrated into a holding structure as a subsidiary of EKT Holding AG. In 2008, EKT Holding lost 28 million Swiss francs in the collapse of Lehman Brothers, losing almost a third of EKT's assets. On 8 June 2009, hebbag AG was founded in Bichelsee-Balterswil, producing heat and electricity from waste wood. By the end of 2009, a photovoltaic system on an EKT substation generated electricity; four more followed by the end of 2010. In 2010 EKT launched the electricity efficiency funding programme 'Clever Strom sparen' for private households, SMEs and municipalities. In 2011 EKT, together with other energy supply companies, began offering 'Thurgauer Naturstrom'. In March, the Fukushima nuclear disaster shocked the world; the Federal Council and Parliament decided on a gradual nuclear phase-out. hebbag took over the existing district heating network from the municipality of Bichelsee-Balterswil and began supplying district heating for industrial, commercial and private properties. On 20 March 2013, Swiss East Power AG was founded as a vehicle through which interested energy suppliers or political organisations could participate in renewable energy technologies and production facilities. However, it turned out that this vehicle was not needed, as investors preferred to participate directly in energy generation plants. The operational business of Swiss East Power AG was therefore discontinued as of 30 September 2015. As of 1 October 2013, EKT outsourced its metering services to SWiBi AG. On 6 November 2015, Wärme Aadorf AG was founded; its wood energy plant supplies around 40 properties in Aadorf with environmentally friendly district heating. In 2017, Hebbag AG was integrated into EKT AG. In 2021, EPS Energie Pool Schweiz AG was acquired as part of a succession arrangement and integrated into EKT Holding AG as an independent stock corporation. In 2022, Kierzek AG was acquired and continued as an independent subsidiary within EKT Holding AG; the company underwent a comprehensive renaming and rebranding in February 2025 and has since operated as NEGXT AG. On 1 November 2022, Wärme Bischofszell-Sittertal AG was founded to generate, distribute and supply thermal energy; heat is extracted from treated wastewater at the ARA Bischofszell and used for climate-neutral heating of connected properties. On 29 November 2022, EKT Holding AG established the charitable 'EKT Energiestiftung' in Weinfelden. The foundation, based in Arbon, aims to promote technologies and projects for secure and sustainable energy generation and supply as well as digitalisation in the Canton of Thurgau. It can also support projects and measures in environmental protection and education and training. A significant share of future Axpo dividends is to be used through the foundation to promote secure and renewable energy supply in Thurgau. While EKT was formerly able to purchase electricity directly from Axpo under the 1914 founding agreement, this is no longer possible due to competition and public procurement law; instead, Axpo pays dividends to its shareholders, and EKT Holding AG intends to contribute a significant share of future dividends to the foundation. At the beginning of 2023, demolition of the old EKT works yard in Sulgen began. In May 2023, the foundation stone for the new works yard was laid. By the end of 2025, around 70 jobs are to move from Arbon to Sulgen. For the first time in its history, EKT is participating in a wind energy project: after the Thurgau government's approval, on 20 December 2023 EKT signed a participation agreement with EKZ for 50 percent of Wellenberg Wind AG. With the three planned wind turbines of Wellenberg Wind AG, around 30 GWh of electricity are to be generated as soon as possible, most of it in the winter half-year, enough for around 6,000 apartments. EKT aims to make an important contribution to a secure, sustainable and affordable electricity supply in Thurgau. With the new layout (reduction from eight to only three wind turbines and the required minimum distance from residential buildings), the concerns of local residents are taken into account. In 2025, EKT Holding AG acquired Datapark AG from Wil SG and integrated it into the Digital Services division of EKT AG. In January 2026, the move of around 70 jobs from Arbon to the new operations building in Sulgen begins; administrative services (finance, controlling, HR, marketing and communication) with around 14 jobs and around 20 modern co-working spaces remain at the Arbon headquarters. On 11 May, EKT AG achieved second place in tonality (share of positive media coverage) in the annual reputation study of Swiss energy companies. On 5/6 June, two-day opening celebrations for the new operations building took place. On 1 July, EKT Holding AG took over Datapark AG from Wil SG and integrated it into the Digital Services division of EKT AG.

• Elektrische Kraftversorgung Bodensee-Thurtal (KBT) founded in Arbon.

• Canton of Thurgau decides to found its own cantonal company.

• Elektrizitätswerk des Kantons Thurgau founded as an independent institution under public law.

• Conversion into an independent stock corporation.

• Company name shortened to EKT AG.

• Integrated into a holding structure as a subsidiary of EKT Holding AG.

• EKT Holding loses 28 million Swiss francs in the collapse of Lehman Brothers.

• hebbag AG founded in Bichelsee-Balterswil.

• Launches 'Clever Strom sparen' electricity efficiency programme.

• Begins offering 'Thurgauer Naturstrom' together with other energy supply companies.

• Swiss East Power AG founded.

• Metering services outsourced to SWiBi AG.

• Wärme Aadorf AG founded.

• Hebbag AG integrated into EKT AG.

• EPS Energie Pool Schweiz AG acquired and integrated into EKT Holding AG.

• Kierzek AG acquired and continued as an independent subsidiary.

• Wärme Bischofszell-Sittertal AG founded.

• EKT Energiestiftung established in Weinfelden.

• Foundation stone laid for new works yard in Sulgen.

• Signs participation agreement for 50% of Wellenberg Wind AG.

• Kierzek AG rebranded as NEGXT AG.

• EKT Holding AG acquires Datapark AG from Wil SG.

• Move of around 70 jobs from Arbon to new operations building in Sulgen begins.

Partner for energy, data and the future; partnership, leadership, sustainability, safety.

• Thurgauer Naturstrom

• Clever Strom sparen

• District heating

• Digital Services

• Clever Strom sparen

  Electricity efficiency funding programme launched in 2010.

1. 1Energie. Daten. Zukunft | EKTekt.ch
2. 2Geschichte | EKTekt.ch
3. 3EKT Holding - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
4. 4EKT - Wikidatawikidata.org