The Minister of Energy, Ms Dipuo Peters expressed her unhappiness pertaining to the installation defects on the solar-geyser installations in some areas in the Western Cape, this is solely attributed to poor workmanship notwithstanding random installation audits that are undertaken to minimise and subsequently eliminate sub-standard installations.
Ms Peters wish to send a stern warning to those installers who are not complying with acceptable standards saying that government will not hesitate to take stern action against them. Installing solar water heating geysers should be in accordance with national standards, the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) Installation Specifications (SANS 10106 and SANS 10254), the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 and the Building Regulations.
"I must reiterate that these requirements should be followed to the letter. The National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications will be able to assist our department in enforcing compliance to these legal and regulatory requirements".
Western Cape solar water heating installations:
The government through the Department of Energy has committed to installing about 1 million solar water heaters by 2014 throughout South Africa. The latest information that the Department of Energy has indicates that about 6 500 units have collectively been installed in Mossel Bay, Saldanha and Theewaterskloof municipalities within the Western Cape.
All these installations have been implemented successfully as a result of the Eskom Rebate Programme. It is also through government’s clear and firm policy directive that we have seen a lot of companies entering this solar water heating/demand side management sector to take up the opportunity presented by this high target.
Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management (EEDSM)
In addition, the Department of Energy has provided a 3-year grant funding (from 2009/10 to 2011/12 financial year) to municipalities as part of the Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management (EEDSM) to install energy efficient lighting technologies in municipal buildings, street and traffic lights in order to mitigate the risk of load shedding and supply interruptions.
In the Western Cape, for the past three years since 2009/10 financial year, seven municipalities have been participating in this programme. These Municipalities are: City of Cape Town (R44 million), Eden District Municipality (R14 million), Mossel Bay (R25 million), George Municipality (R14 million), Hessequa Municipality (R14 million), Bitou Municipality (R14 million) and Kannaland Municipality (R14 million).
Enquiries:
Zodwa Batyashe
Cell: 082 455 9796
Ndivhuwo Khangale
Cell: 082 465 6090
Source: Department of Energy
Minister of Energy calls on service providers to adhere to acceptable standards of installation
