Eskom in solar power play

OVERREACH: UTILITY, SOME COUNCILS DEMAND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY USERS REGISTER

- Ina Opperman

THROUGH THE ROOF. Solar panels on the roof of a house in platteklloof in Cape Town. It is reported Eskom is proposing restructured tariffs for solar panels users while on the grid.

(Picture: Gallo Images)

Civil action organisation Outa is calling on solar users not to register with Eskom or their municipalities.

It also criticised Eskom and municipalities for their threats regarding household solar registration, calling it impractical, irrational and unfair.

Wayne Duvenage, CEO of the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), says recent threats from Eskom and certain municipalities to fine or disconnect electricity supply when consumers fail to register their small-scale embedded generation systems (solar PV) are impractical, irrational and unfair.

"We also notice the authorities added significant amendments to earlier supposed requirements and deadlines, which is generating more uncertainty and ambiguity on their demands and threats to households with solar installations.

"Outa received a surge of queries and concerns from the public, after threatening communications from Eskom and certain municipalities, including the City of Joburg, demanded registration or prior approval for SSEG installations under 100kW, which do not feed electricity back into the grid."