The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) wants Eskom, licensed municipalities and private electricity distributors to keep formal registers of embedded generation facilities below 100 kW within their supply areas.
Under draft rules now open for public comment, the regulator proposes that small-scale embedded generation, including rooftop solar installations, below the 100 kW threshold are recorded in distributor registers. These systems are generally exempt from licensing but remain subject to registration requirements under the Electricity Regulation Act and associated exemption and registration notices.
NERSA says distributors will be required to keep a register of qualifying generation facilities in their licensed electricity supply areas.
“Registration of small-scale embedded generation facilities is essential for network security, public and personnel safety and for the maintenance of an accurate national database of installed generation facilities in South Africa,” NERSA said in its public hearing notice.
NERSA has invited written submissions on the draft rules and consultation paper. Comments must be submitted by August 7.
A virtual public hearing is scheduled for August 14 at 11h30. Stakeholders wishing to attend or make oral representations must register by the August 7 deadline.
