Billag

During lunchtime, one ordinary working day, I was talking to my colleges…I don’t really remember about what exactly where we talking about when the word Billag came across. At first I did not pay much attention to it, but after some time I still had the echo of Billag on my head and I was wondering what that was…so far from staying with this doubt I asked. To my surprise I was introduced to another fee, who no one had ever mentioned but everyone assumed I was already paying…and I wasn’t…with the risk that implies in Switzerland!!

So being so responsible and cautious as I am I soon got to my office and asked by god father about this unknown fee. I then discovered that Billag is fee that is to be paid for having the right to see TV or listen to a radio…even if you don’t do so! As soon as you have a TV or have a car with a radio you cannot stay away of it…so sorry you now have one more bill to pay and congratulations ….now that you pay you are doing things the correct way :)

Here I leave you with some basic info that will sort you out for the moment:

Billag is the name of the Swiss collection agency for radio and TV license fees. Anyone which has TV or radio has to pay a licensing fee per month for the service.

-          Is it like paying for cable?

No. This is the basic license that you pay to use a TV or radio. If you want cable TV you might be interested on getting extra information from cable network operators (like Swisscom, Cablecon or Sunrise amongst others).

-          Do I need in addition to a cable network connection also pay license fees?

Yes. The cable network connection and the fees have nothing to do with each other. The offer of the cable network is based on a private contract that you agree with the cable operator. This regards the quality and variety you will get your programs with. The license fee is owed to the federal government when operational radio and / or television sets are available.

-          Why do I have to pay fees if I consume only foreign channels with the satellite dish?

The fee is owed to the federal government for the reception of programs, independently of the way they are received in. 

-          Do I pay per device or per number of persons?

No. The fees are paid per household regardless of the number of devices and persons in the household. Distinction is made between TV and radio devices. This means that if you only have one type of device (regardless the number of them) you are allowed just to pay for that. Important is to note that if you have a car, even if you don’t have a radio at home, you have to pay the billag fee for radio, as you are making use of a radio device on the car.

-          Do I pay fees when I use the TV as monitor for video / DVD and / or computer games?

If the device is technically capable of receiving programs, you are notified and charged. It's not enough to hang the antenna or to unplug the device from the cable network. Only if no functioning antenna infrastructure (satellite, terrestrial, cable, Internet) is present, the TV is no obligation.

-          What is the cost?

	3 months	Per Year
Radio	42.30	169.15
Television	73.30	293.25
Radio and Television	115.60	462.40

-          What happens if I sign out?

If you log out and still continue to have operational equipment, you will have to pay a fine of up to CHF 5'000 (Art.101 RTA). Inspectors control household that don’t pay billag or that have refused it.

-          Where can I get further information?

https://www.billag.com/web/de/home.html

Quiet hours…Nachrühe

Being Spanish as I am, remaining quiet is a difficult task to achieve! Nevertheless ever since I’m in Switzerland I have tried very hard to integrate myself maintaining my essence. This has sometimes been a hard task especially when you are suggested not to do certain things at certain times…which to my surprise everybody finds usual and normal!!

In Switzerland there are a lot of expectations as to how to behave. There are unwritten laws which everyone follows as a learned behavior and which no one mentions, not because they don’t want, but just because they assume everybody behaves in the same way, not having to make any further notice!!

But believe me you are going to look as surprised as I did when I started to hear that I could not shower or even flush the toilet after 10pm!! When I first heard this image rushed into my head…what if I ever have a midnight hurry?? How am I supposed to proceed? Shall I leave the, well …(you understand me)… there until next morning?? I have never done this question to anyone, not event to you…as here are certain things I’d rather not have an answer for and just proceed as I would normally do!!

The best recommendation I can give you is to keep your eyes and ears opened, and never judge but look for guidance. The way to fit into a new situation or a new culture is to observe and adjust to the surroundings.

Having said so, quiet hours are set:                                                              

-          Daily from 12.00- 13.00 (lunch hour) and from 22.00 – 7.00 (night rest)

-          Hole of Sundays and any Public Holidays.

During this time, I would reduce the amount of noise and will pay special attention to:

-          TV, radio or music volume.

-          Flushing the toilet

-          Taking a shower

-          Vacuum cleaning

-          Doing laundry (some buildings actually shut off electricity to the machines at this time)

-          Gardening

-          Recycling glass bottles

-          Drilling, hanging pictures ... basically no diy (Do It Yourself)

Some apartment buildings have strict quiet hours and these may include specific things a non-Swiss person may not typically associate with loud noise. For this reason clauses may be included in your apartment rental contract.

Aaraus’ Nuclear Power Station

Astonishment is the word which will best describe me when I knew I was going to live beside a nuclear power station.  I mean we do have nuclear power stations in Spainn and even in Valencia…but they don’t show up out of my window!! The truth is that I did not fancy the idea much in the beginning, not for any particular reason….and the my god father told me: as long as you see the cloud everything is ok…start worrying just if it goes away!!! And that is what I do, as a reflex i check out for the cloud every time I look through the window…and that is all the concern I have!!

If you are moving to Aarau or anywhere near a Power station, just remember the trick…check out for the cloud and only worry if it’s not there ;) 

The power station Kernkraftwerk Gösgen is situated on the river Aare in Aarau and is operated by the Nordostschweizerische Kraftwerke AG NOK. For this reason the local council distributes free of charge Potassium iodine tablets.

-          Who gets Potassium iodine tablets?

Anyone living within a distance of 20 kilometers from a nuclear power plant will be provided with potassium iodine tablets as a precautionary measure. If there is a danger of radioactive substance being released following a nuclear power plant accident, the population will be alerted.

-          When do you take Potassium iodine tablets?

Tablets should not be taken before a directive has been issued by the authorities

A power plant accident may occur if the safety tank fails, leading to possible release of radioactive iodine into the environment. Iodine will enter the human body via the respiratory system and is enriched in the thyroid gland. If taken in good time, potassium iodine tablets will prevent radioactive iodine from being absorbed by the thyroid gland.

-          Where do I get potassium iodine tablets?

They will be handed out free of charge when you register in the local council. If for any reason you don’t have them feel free to ask and they will provide you with them.

Aarau markets

As if tradition had never left, Aarau is one of the most attractive market towns in Switzerland. Every Saturday, early in the morning with rain or snow, sun or clouds, shopkeepers build up their tents in the market and Aaraus’ habitats roam through Graben with their shopping cars as if time had frozen sometime in the middle of the Middle Age.

I normally go to the gym on Saturday mornings and every Saturday I see this picturesque image which is created…I even sometimes turn around and check the picture twice… it’s just as if time had not gone through this town!! What has gone through are the prices…and oh my God in what way…you are sometimes just going to look but never touch…prices are exceptional!! Just as the superb quality of the products, that are of course Swiss made, Swiss standard and Swiss price !!

1)       Regular markets:

	Where?	When?
Big Vegetable Market	Graben	Satudays 7.00-12.00	Regional Products
Small Vegetable Market	Graben	Wednesdays 8.00-12.00	Regional Products
Goods Market	Graben	3rd Wednesday in Apr, May, Aug, Oct, Nov, Dec 8.00-18.00	Clasic Market
Flea Market	Markthalle Färberplatz, Färberhöfli	1st Saturday in March-Nov 8.00-17.00	Bargains

2)       Aarauer Rüeblimärt for Connoisseurs

The "Aarauer Rueblimärt" is unique to the tradition for Aarauers in Switzerland. Thousands of visitors come from all over Switzerland and from neighboring countries to this carrot market.

When and Where? The Rüeblimärt is held in the same place on the first Wednesday of November, at the ice skating rink during the spring. This year, the 32th edition, will be held on Wednesday 6 November.

Further information: http://www.rueblimaert.ch/

3)       AMA (Aargauer Messe Aarau)

This is an annual event and is a consumer and trade fair market for commerce, industry and agriculture.

When?

Wednesday, 20 March	13.00-21.00
Thursday, 21 March	13.00-21.00
Friday, 22 March	13.00-21.00
Saturday, 23 March	10.00-21.00
Sunday, 24 March	13.00-18.00

Price?

Adults	CHF 10
Students and Apprentices	CHF 7
Childen over 11 years	CHF 7
Childen under 11 years	Free

Further information: http://www.ama-messe.ch/htm/willkommen.htm

4)       MAG (Market of Aarauer Tradesmen)

In the last week of September the MAG (Market of Aarauer Tradesmen) takes place there, with regional companies selling their products. This year it will take place from the 26th to 29th September.

Further information: http://www.mag-aarau.ch/

SBB day card

The city of Aarau offers you the opportunity to buy eight SBB "community day tickets" The municipalities agree to leave their day tickets only to its own residents Exempt from this restriction are residents of small communities (up to 2000 inhabitants), which may also continue to receive a day pass tickets.

-          What is the cost of the daily ticket?

A day pass costs CHF 42. Be aware that the exchange of purchased day passes or the refund of the purchase price is excluded.

-          How and where can I get this ticket?

1)       Phone: 062 836 06 21

2)       Personally at the Information Desk of the reserve city offices at City Hall: Rathausgasse 1, 5000 Aarau

3)       On the following link:

http://www.aarau.ch/xml_1/internet/de/application/d2948/d126/f1718.cfm            

-          Where and when can I pick collect my ticket?

Where? In the offices at City Hall: Rathausgasse 1, 5000 Aarau

When?

Mo, Tue, Wed, Fri: 8,00-11,30 and 14,00-17,00

Thu: 8,00-11,30 and 14,00-19,00

Sat (1st and 3rd of each month): 8,00-11,30

Waste disposal

Garbage disposal requires time and attention in Aarau. The first thing is to get a copy of your city’s garbage calendar and try to understand it, then bear in mind the type of trash you want to throw away. This is important because some trash is collected and other you have to drop on special sites. If you put your garbage out too early or in the wrong bag, you may be subject to a fine...you may be called to the police station to identify your trash. Fines for setting the trash out too early the night before can reach…CHF 250!!

So …Bear in mind the following:

1)       Bags:

Trash bags have to be from Aarau. You can buy them at the local council or in any supermarket…they are not accessible so you have to ask the cash lady and ahe will provide them to you!!! The prices depend on the size:

Liters	Number of bags	Price
17 liters	10 units	CHF 13,90
35 liters	10 units	CHF 21,20
60 liters	10 units	CHF 33,00
110 liters	5 units	CHF 28,45

2)       Paper placement

Recycling paper is another ritual. You must tie it up with strings in neat packages no higher than about six inches before putting it outside. Don’t stick it all in a paper box or bag and put outside as your paper will not be picked up and it will be plastered with a sticker stating your error.

You can of course but all you paper in a regular trash bag (remember bags from point 1)…but I recommend we all help the environment a little and recycle!!

3)       Collection days and trash type:

Garbage	Thursdays (Süd, Damm and Rohr) Fridays (North Quarter). This is the regular basis, but note there might be exception on those days that there is a public holiday (check the garbage calendar)
Plants	Mondays (Süd and Damm) Tuesdays (North and Rohr)
Paper	Once a month (always on a Wednesday)
Metal	Four times a year (always on a Wednesday)

4)       Drop in retail:

-          PET bottles: this is restricted to bottles (plastic is NOT included…and if you by mistake put plastic I can give faith that someone will vigorously tell you off)

-          Batteries

-          Energy-saving lamps, fluorescent tubes, bulbs

-          Toxic and chemical drugs (these can be dropped in pharmacies and drugstores)

All of these may seem weird and complicated in the beginning when you first look at it, but if everybody does it and the system works…it can’t be so complicated!! Remember Switzerland is one of the countries with the most efficient recycling procedures!!

I encourage you to try and discover it’s not so hard ;)

Access to the Old Town

The old town of Aarau is traffic and parking free. There is a ban on motor vehicles, motorcycles and scooters. This excludes public buses, taxi with special permits and police with approved trips.

Handling of goods is allowed at the following times:  

           Mo-Fr: 6.00 -11.00 and 14.00 - 17.00

           Saturday : 6.00 -11.00

Tenants are allowed to access the town center on request of a justified request permission (i.e moving). This is a daily permit (the date is specifies beforehand on request, no changes are valid), only valid for one car (plate number is to be detailed) and has a cost of CHF 10.

Make sure you get a permit otherwise you may get a fine as regular controls are held in town!