[kictanet] Government moves to stop use of solar energy

[Alice Munyua]

Seriously! We can not get a break. 

> On Nov 28, 2020, at 14:03, Mwendwa Kivuva via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
> 
> 
> https://nation.africa/kenya/business/epra-races-to-strangle-solar-use-3212238?view=htmlamp&__twitter_impression=true
> 
> 
> The Draft Energy (Solar Photovoltaic Systems) Regulations, 2020 seek to make it a harder and more expensive to manufacture, import, install or maintain solar components and systems and make consumers stick to the expensive and unreliable national power grid.
> You will need a bachelor’s degree or three courses in engineering to operate as a solar power technician, if the new guidelines drafted by the energy regulator are implemented. 
> 
> The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) has introduced a raft of punitive rules that could stifle the mass switch to cheap solar power by ordinary Kenyans and heavy consumers that has left Kenya Power in financial difficulties.
> 
> According to the regulations, a technician must obtain a licence from the authority in order to design, install, commission or repair a solar photovoltaic (PV) system.
> 
> The permits are granted, based on the capacity of the system to be installed.
> 
> Licence classes STI, ST2 and ST3 are for systems with a capacity of not more than 400 watts, 2kW, and 50kW respectively.
> 
> Only a technician with a class ST4 licence will be allowed to install solar grids of any capacity.
> 
> A bachelor’s degree is a must if you want to make a career out of installing solar grids. You will also need relevant experience in electrical engineering.
> 
> 
> 
> Solar technicians will part with Sh2,250 to Sh6,000 in order to get and renew their licences, while contractors will pay Sh3,000 to Sh6,000.
> 
> 
> 
> The contractors must take insurance policies of between Sh1 million and Sh10 million.
> 
> 
> 
> Solar operators will be slapped with a daily fine of Sh10,000 if they delay to renew their licences, Sh20,000 if they do not issue a completion certificate for a project and the same amount for failing to provide a warranty for installation.
> 
> 
> 
> Epra said regulating the industry would ensure solar components and systems meet approved standards.
> 
> _______________________________________________
> kictanet mailing list
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet
> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/
> 
> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alice%40munyua.com
> 
> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
> 
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/pipermail/kictanet/attachments/20201128/6f42574b/attachment.htm>