No need for the City’s heavy-handed approach on solar panels
27 November 2018
The Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry can understand why the Cape Town electricity department needs to know about rooftop solar panels that are tied to the grid but says there is no reason for the City’s heavy-handed approach and threat of huge fines.
“People who invest in solar tend to be informed and responsible citizens and they should be treated as such,” said Ms Janine Myburgh, President on the Chamber. “The City is not dealing with delinquents.”
Fines of more than R6 000 unless the panels were registered by the end of February were excessive and should not be necessary while the threat to disconnect supplies was ‘over the top’.
“It’s time the City learnt that incentives work better than fines. It should be carrots first and the stick only if the incentives don’t work.”