Question NW1692 to the Minister of Energy
02 September 2016 - NW1692
Van Dalen, Mr P to ask the Minister of Energy
When will the regulations contained in the Consultation Paper on Small-scale Embedded Generation: Regulatory Rules, published on 25 February 2015 by the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa), be finalised for both (a) low and (b) medium voltage connections by both (i) her department and (ii) Nersa; 2) Whether any plans have been put in place to grant exceptions for private generators of electricity in the interim while the specified regulations are being finalised; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? 3) Whether Nersa requires clients to have generator licenses in order to purchase power from Eskom’s net metering programme; if not, why do municipalities apply a different policy in this regard; if so, what are the reasons; 4) Whether clients of Eskom’s net metering programme require licenses to operate; if so, why is the same process of applying for licenses that is applicable to big independent power producers applicable to the specified clients, since the small generators cannot adhere to the requirements?
Reply:
1. (a)(b)(i) and (ii): The Small-scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) rules will be finalized once the notice of exemption from licensing has been gazetted by the Department of Energy. Gazetting of the exemption notice will happen once the opinion of the Office of the State Law Advisor on the exemption notice is obtained.
2. No, in the absence of an enabling legal and regulatory framework NERSA can neither license nor register SSEGs like Roof Top Photovoltaic. Generator installations up to 100kVA are exempted from being regulated, in terms of Schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act.
3. We are not aware of Eskom’s net-metering programme. Municipalities may have a different regime due to their Constitutional mandate pertaining to electricity reticulation.
4. We are not aware of Eskom’s net-metering programme.