Resistance to generator register plan

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) has sent an urgent letter to the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) urging it to abandon its draft rules which would make it mandatory for all small-scale, embedded electricity generators to be registered.

Outa said that the proposed regulations, which would be applicable to all generation devices, including back-up generators and solar panels, “are unacceptable and must be withdrawn”.

Both Outa and the NGO Energy Expert Coalition (EEC) have expressed discontent with the proposed regulations.

More than 17 000 people have submitted signatures to the EEC to represent them at Nersa’s public hearings.

Outa initiated a petition earlier this week “to ensure that the public’s voice is heard and that the embattled consumer is not laden with another unnecessary expense.

“We have received an overwhelming response from the public voicing their concerns about these proposed rules.

“Several thousand signatures have already been received and we are expecting many more,” said Outa energy portfolio manager Ronald Chauke.

“South Africans who have invested in energy-saving devices should not be penalised for reducing electricity demand from the national grid.

“Nor should they be taxed for becoming environmentally conscious and pursuing energy self-sufficiency.”

In addition to this, Outa’s analysis of the draft rules had revealed that the energy regulator has added an administrative burden that was uncalled for and would be costly to enforce, he said. – Citizen reporter