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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>It’s really disappointing<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>We are also having some policy conflict as there was another government policy that required houses to install solar<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Alex<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US> kictanet <kictanet-bounces+awatila=yahoo.co.uk@lists.kictanet.or.ke> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Alice Munyua via kictanet<br><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, November 29, 2020 12:13 AM<br><b>To:</b> awatila@yahoo.co.uk<br><b>Cc:</b> Alice Munyua <alice@munyua.com><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [kictanet] Government moves to stop use of solar energy<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Seriously! We can not get a break. <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>On Nov 28, 2020, at 14:03, Mwendwa Kivuva via kictanet <<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></blockquote></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nation.africa/kenya/business/epra-races-to-strangle-solar-use-3212238?view=htmlamp&__twitter_impression=true">https://nation.africa/kenya/business/epra-races-to-strangle-solar-use-3212238?view=htmlamp&__twitter_impression=true</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><div><p style='line-height:200%;font-size:1.1rem'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#333333'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p style='line-height:200%;font-size:1.1rem'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#333333'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='line-height:200%;font-size:1.1rem'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#333333'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='line-height:200%;font-size:1.1rem'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#333333'>The permits are granted, based on the capacity of the system to be installed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='line-height:200%;font-size:1.1rem'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#333333'>Licence classes STI, ST2 and ST3 are for systems with a capacity of not more than 400 watts, 2kW, and 50kW respectively.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='line-height:200%;font-size:1.1rem'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#333333'>Only a technician with a class ST4 licence will be allowed to install solar grids of any capacity.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='line-height:200%;font-size:1.1rem'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#333333'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='line-height:200%;font-size:1.1rem'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#333333'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='line-height:200%;font-size:1.1rem'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#333333'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='line-height:200%;font-size:1.1rem'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#333333'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='line-height:200%;font-size:1.1rem'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#333333'>The contractors must take insurance policies of between Sh1 million and Sh10 million.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='line-height:200%;font-size:1.1rem'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#333333'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='line-height:200%;font-size:1.1rem'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#333333'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='line-height:200%;font-size:1.1rem'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#333333'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='line-height:200%;font-size:1.1rem'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#333333'>Epra said regulating the industry would ensure solar components and systems meet approved standards.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal>_______________________________________________<br>kictanet mailing list<br><a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br><a href="https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet">https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/kictanet">http://twitter.com/kictanet</a><br>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/">https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/</a><br><br>Unsubscribe or change your options at <a href="https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alice%40munyua.com">https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alice%40munyua.com</a><br><br>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.<br><br>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.<o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote></div></body></html>