Registering alternative forms of supply at municipality

[Pieter00]

So I'm not sure if I'm going to stir the pot or not, but let's see what happens. 😁 When a new installation is done, a COC gets issued and this will then go to council showing them the installation is safe and ready to be switched on. So would this not then also count for solar PV systems as it's a form of supply and I can't find it in Sans 10142:1 but I'm sure it requires any form of supply to be made known to council?
Would you still give a coc on a solar installation that the client wants but refuses to have it registered with council?

[GCE]

NERSA requires all PV installations to be registered .
They have given the task to the local councils to report back on the size and qty's of PV installed under there network.
It is documented under NRS 097-2-:2014

An extract from the document pasted below.

As the installer it is your responsibility to inform council on there prescribed form and most ask for a COC to be submitted with it - In PE council then send a quote to the owner to fit 4 quadrant meters and change the tariff to time of use.

Over and above all that - The basic requirement is that you may not go more than 25% of incoming CB size , may not imbalance the phases by more than 4,6Kw and the council needs to ensure that the minisub in the area is not exceeded by 75% and that the MV line at max load is not exceeded by 15%
It is all to do with keeping the voltage stable.
It is a problem in commercial and industrial areas over weekends where the load reduces and voltage lifts if the Tap settings on the minisubs are out or the auto tap change further back the line does not compensate. With the reduction in load due to companies closed over the weekend and further PV power back into the grid there could be zero load on the minisub or it pushes back through the minisub onto the MV line.

It has already become a problem in some areas down in the Western Cape , or so I am told.


4.1 General
NOTE 1 The NRS 097-2 series of specifications specify the minimum technical requirements for LV
generators connected to the South African grid, as aligned to the requirements of the grid connection code for
renewable power plants connected to the electricity transmission system or the distribution system in South
Africa.
NOTE 2 Requirements given in this section of NRS 097-2 should be used to evaluate LV generator grid
interconnection applications. LV (230 V/400 V) connected generators that fall within these criteria are proposed
to follow a simplified connection process that will not require detailed network studies.
NOTE 3 Simplified criteria rules are subject to the following:
a) An individual limit of 25 % of NMD will typically support a penetration level (percentage of customers that
install a generator) of 30 % to 50 %, which is considered a reasonable and acceptable compromise
between restricting individual generator sizes versus restricting penetration levels.
b) The network feeder design After Diversity Maximum Demand (ADMD) is unknown.
c) The size of plant, type of generation, location of plant and date of installation of ALL generating plants
should be captured and documented by the utility CONTINUALLY.

[GCE]

Would you still give a coc on a solar installation that the client wants but refuses to have it registered with council?

We submit the prescribed form to council with the COC .
I want to be a respected Electrical contractor by Council and my Peers and abide by and work within the rules laid down by various laws that govern us.
We all sign and agree to work within the laws as Business owners and I see no reason to put my business in jeopardy .

It is tempting to ignore , but I sleep better knowing I am trying to do the right thing.

[Pieter00]

That's a great reply thanks GCE, I'm still a bit new to this solar stuff and this individual limit etc was discussed. I'll have to review that section as I don't understand it especially if the system isn't pushing back into the grid

[GCE]

. I'll have to review that section as I don't understand it especially if the system isn't pushing back into the grid

The way I understand it is if it is off grid you still need to notify the Municipality . The minute you grid tie even if you say zero export then the NERSA regs kick in and the Municipality needs to be notified and approve the system.

The problem that is happening even on " off grid" should call them Island systems the load is being reduced on the municipal grid which can cause havoc with voltage and frequency to a point.

In an upmarket golf estate you may find 80% of owners going for some sort of PV system whereas in a middle class area you may only find 30 to 50% of owners have PV.
Give a week of bad PV days the golf estate loading on the mini sub will increase having an overall effect on the network voltages

It is one of the reasons that if you are going to generate in excess of 350KVA you need to do a network study before you can connect

These regulations are to assist in " simplified " connection process

NOTE 2 Requirements given in this section of NRS 097-2 should be used to evaluate LV generator grid
interconnection applications. LV (230 V/400 V) connected generators that fall within these criteria are proposed
to follow a simplified connection process that will not require detailed network studies

A detailed network study can cost in the region of 150K which is not a huge burden on bigger installations but would kill small installation return on investments
There are cases where the MV line may have a light load and a network study could still be enforced by the municipality

4.1.2 Simplified connection of generator sizes should be limited to 350 kVA


The sizing of the generation input is defined and allows for load that will be supplied on site and local " storage"

generator size
maximum change in active power flow at the point of utility connection for a generator trip (or rapid
reduction in output) when generating at full active power output
NOTE Some or all of the power generated may be consumed by the customers’ local loads. Where there is no
local storage the generator size is the active power rating of the installed generation. In cases with local
storage, the storage can be used to reduce the effective size of the generator by compensating for variations in
generation output, hence the definition used above.

[ACEsterhuizen]

Under which Regulation is this document enacted by law?

https://www.sseg.org.za/wp-content/u...l-2014_B_W.pdf

[GCE]

Under which Regulation is this document enacted by law?

https://www.sseg.org.za/wp-content/u...l-2014_B_W.pdf[ATTACH=CONFIG]8557[/ATTACH]

According to their website , Electrical Regulations Act ( Act No 4 of 2006)

https://www.nersa.org.za

[Dylboy]

Would the likes of Green Solar and PQRS go Into detail of all this ?

I feel training just on registration is needed.

I will try self learn this with what ever time I have but I would rather do a course and pay a person to teach me hahaha.

I would like to do it by the book but I actually don't even know which book to follow or use at the moment...

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[Alfred M]

Overview: Technical Standards
• Key South African Documents
– NRS 097 (Industry Specifications)
– SANS 10142-1-2 (Wiring Standard for SA)
– RPP Grid Code (Required by NERSA)
– NRS 052 / SANS 959 (Off Grid PV systems)
– NRS 048 (Power Quality)
• International Documents
– IEC 62109: Safety of power converters for use in
photovoltaic power systems

[Alfred M]

https://store.sabs.co.za/catalog/product/view/id/229352/s/sans-62109-1-2012-ed-1-00/

[ACEsterhuizen]

https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201409/a4-060.pdf

Hi Pieter,

I see no mention of " ALL PV INSTALLATIONS MUST BE REGISTERED AT SOME COUNCIL" in this Act.

It seems to be aimed at GRID INTERCONNECTION OF EMBEDDED
GENERATION only.

YES i would give a coc to a customer if the installation complies

[Isetech]

You would need to do it according to your municipality requirements, you need to understand that we all live in different parts of SA. I have heard the way things are done in the Cape are not the same as the way things are done in other provinces.

We all know why people dont register the system, including the council metering department , so if you think you are smarter than everyone else, I think you are going to be in for a little surprise.

What is going to get interesting is when the council will start doing checks, how they will determine the loss they have incurred and who will be prosecuted, the owner and the installer or both?

I am will GCE on this one, I would rather makes sure I dont have to waste months in court over some solar installation.

Something to consider, your solar panels are visible on google earth. Your electricity account has been recorded and an average consumption is on record with the council ever since the day the electricity was connected. The bank records of the day you purchased the system, the installers invoice, its all on record.

[Derlyn]

I know this is not solar, but our Munic tried about a year ago to get everyone with rain water tanks to register with them.

About 4 people did. The rest demanded to know what their motive was. We knew they had plans of somehow charging us for collecting rainwater.

They came back to us telling us not to worry, they only wanted to make sure that we weren't contaminating the Munic water supply with our rainwater.

We pointed out to them that this was not possible as their water meters incorporate a non return valve, preventing this from happening.

Haven't heard from them since.

Watch out for municipalities run by the ANC. They are snakes. Just wanting to suck your last cent from you. They beg you to use less electricity and water. You then spend money on tanks and solar panels to oblige. Then they want to penalize you for using less water and electricity.

It has nothing to do with services, but all about the money. They hate you for making less available for them to loot.

[Dylboy]

All they want is bucks.. GCE made great points of loads in certain times.

I feel if someone goes Fu@k you to paying electrics and goes off grid then the municipal have zero to do with you.
I'm tired of everyone wanting a piece of flesh...and doing nothing with it....

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[Alfred M]

Dylboy / Derlyn be careful of such remarks there are standards for reasons like GCE mentioned your off grid installation influence Escom how? Think what happens if your off grid goes tits up where do you look generator back up or the nearest power backup Escom. Remember it is very very expensive and not viable going off grid unless you have no option and not advisable what kind of battery power are you going to use?. If you spend 300k realistic on off grid system what is your solar panel lifespan or how many charges from Lifep04. Be realistic off grid systems are for the rich and not the average household