[kictanet] Government moves to stop use of solar energy

Mon Nov 30 13:55:42 EAT 2020

Hi Kivuva, Beryl,
I am curious about the rationale for regulation. Have you come across any
info on the safety issues (if safety is the issue)? Also, what is the level
of penetration of solar in the country?
Why also can't we adopt the type approval way as is done with
communications equipment? I am thinking that this would make regulation
technology agnostic, such that if the government (EPRA) assures us of the
quality of equipment being manufactured/imported, then consumers can seek
services of existing electricians.
Otherwise, if we regulate solar 'practitioners', do we also need to
regulate biogas and wind and future energy sources 'practitioners'?

GB

On Mon, 30 Nov 2020 at 13:40, Mwendwa Kivuva via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> Great conversations here.
>
> If we were to engage The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA),
> what would be our recommendations?
>
> We cannot escape regulations on the energy sector. Perhaps a good start
> would be to put less barriers. For example, if I am qualified as a solar
> technician, why punish me with exorbitant licenses instead of supporting me
> to help connect more households and businesses to the grid? The benefits
> for the government where electricity is inexpensive far outway the
> stifling measures EPRA is recommending. Such benefits include less funding
> to the grid by the public, more tax revenue from more industries and
> businesses established, better educated population (electricity is now an
> important component for education), ... The spiral effect of affordable
> energy would touch every sector of our economy
>
> I
>
> ______________________
> Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya
> https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwendwa-kivuva
>
>
> On Mon, 30 Nov 2020 at 09:24, Kelvin Kariuki via kictanet <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
>> I cannot overemphasize what Barrack and Keith have stated above. I teach
>> online classes at a public university and I have observed, together with
>> some colleagues, that we get a slightly less than 50% turnout per session
>> with students claiming challenges ranging from:
>> 1. Lack of Device
>> 2. Lack of Electricity
>> 3. Power Loss
>> 4. Lack of Network/Internet Connection
>>
>> A *sustainable digital economy* can only be powered with *green energy*!
>> With striffling green energy, we will continue to struggle to give life to
>> the futuristic "*Silicon Savannah*"!
>>
>> On Mon, Nov 30, 2020 at 6:42 AM Beryl Aidi via kictanet <
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>
>>> This is hardly surprising after Kenya Power recently raised alarm over
>>> the rising switch to solar energy according to this report.
>>> https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/corporate/companies/kenya-power-raises-alarm-over-clients-solar-switch--3204410
>>>
>>> While the growth of the sector is good given the advantages of solar
>>> energy and even the fact that Kenya is right on the Equator so we get a
>>> good amount of solar exposure, some regulation is necessary to ensure
>>> safety standards. However it is appalling that the proposed measures are
>>> stifling and seem geared toward keeping the monopoly of KPLC. It's a shame
>>> and really uncalled for, if not absolutely absurd given the inefficiency of
>>> KPLC. The government should be encouraging growth in the energy sector
>>> rather than stifling it.
>>>
>>> Beryl Aidi
>>>
>>> On Sun, Nov 29, 2020 at 10:58 PM Keith Andere via kictanet <
>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Listers,
>>>>
>>>> I do agree with you Barrack that the time is ripe. During Kenya IGF as
>>>> well as the recently concluded African IGF,
>>>> Unreliable/Expensive/unconnected Electricity at last mile came out as a
>>>> consistent enabler for powering digital inclusion and by extension digital
>>>> transformation.
>>>>
>>>> This therefore, is an opportunity to move forward with speed.
>>>>
>>>> Regards
>>>> Keith.
>>>>
>>>> On Sun, 29 Nov 2020 at 20:22, Barrack Otieno via kictanet <
>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Flipping the coin and looking at the role Solar can play in powering
>>>>> Community Networks, looks like an opportunity is ripe for engaging EPRA,
>>>>> Senate and Parliament. This is a key infrastructure issue that can affect
>>>>> the cost of deploying critical infrastructure @Mwendwa Kivuva
>>>>> <kivuva at kictanet.or.ke>
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards
>>>>>
>>>>> On Sun, 29 Nov 2020, 11:43 am John R. Gicharu via kictanet, <
>>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> The chances are that if nobody rigorously campaigns/ lobbies against
>>>>>> these regulations, parliament will pass them as gazzetted by EPRA.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Regards, John Gicharu
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Sunday, November 29, 2020, 08:20:45 AM GMT+3, John Kariuki via
>>>>>> kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> There is no technical or legal Justification for discriminating one
>>>>>> electrical technician from another. The regulations should therefore not be
>>>>>> substantially different from the existing ones. I am not aware of any
>>>>>> university which trains technicians per se. That requirement is therefore
>>>>>> superfluous. Fortunately, regulations these days require approval of
>>>>>> Parliament and these ones should be considered "dead on arrival".
>>>>>>
>>>>>> John Kariuki
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
>>>>>> <https://go.onelink.me/107872968?pid=InProduct&c=Global_Internal_YGrowth_AndroidEmailSig__AndroidUsers&af_wl=ym&af_sub1=Internal&af_sub2=Global_YGrowth&af_sub3=EmailSignature>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Sun, Nov 29, 2020 at 0:14, Alice Munyua via kictanet
>>>>>> <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 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
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>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>> 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
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>>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Keith Andere
>>>> Tech | Peace & Security | Sustainable Development | AfricaWeWant
>>>> W: wa.me/254722565212
>>>>
>>>> Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail or it's
>>>> contents.
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>>>> 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,
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>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Beryl
>>> ***********************************************
>>> Beryl Aidi
>>> Campaign and Communication Specialist
>>> Sunnyside Communications
>>> www.sunnysidecommunications.com
>>> Skype: beryl.aidi | Twitter: @thespannergal
>>>
>>>
>>> Remember that sometimes the smallest gesture can change the world.
>>>
>>>
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>>> 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.
>>>
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>>
>>
>> Warmly,
>>
>> Tr. Karis
>>
>> Twitter Handle: @teacherkaris
>> Alt email: kkariuki at mmu.ac.ke
>> Mobile: +2547 29 385 557
>>
>> The Lord is my Shepherd
>>
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>>
>> 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.
>>
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>
> 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.
>

-- 
Grace Mutung'u
Skype: gracebomu
@Bomu
PGP ID : 0x33A3450F
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