Best way to hide solar panels from an aerial survey?

[itareanlnotani]

Have you registered your off grid installation (my understanding is that, even if off grid, you still need to register) and of so, are you getting charged any sort of fee related to electricity at all..?

I don't have a grid connection at all (built on a plot with no service previously), so no fee's for electricity as yet.

I haven't registered yet, as I prefer not to just yet. I don't have a grid connection, so its impossible for me to feedback to the grid.

I do know that this is required even for offgrid, but thats more to confirm you aren't feeding back to the grid. I don't have a grid in the first place, so thats a tacit impossibility.

I'll probably get forced into sending in my details at some point, but for now i think better off their radar, as they'll force me into paying for a connection I don't need or want.

If I look through the docs, they do effectively force you into getting a new connection even if offgrid.

So, some proof that they do tax you for solar!

So.. better not to register.


Page 29 here. -https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/Requiremenst%20for%20Samll-Scale%20Embedded%20Generation.pdf

 

[chrisc]

I registered in 2017, no feedback from CT Council. My installation does not feed back to the grid

 

[RonSwanson]

Estonian startup company

Integrated Solar Roof | Nordic Design | Roofit.solar

Our award-winning integrated solar roof combines Nordic design with premium materials and highly efficient solar technology.

roofit.solar

 

[wingnut771]

Estonian startup company

Integrated Solar Roof | Nordic Design | Roofit.solar

Our award-winning integrated solar roof combines Nordic design with premium materials and highly efficient solar technology.

roofit.solar

The Roofit looks nice, the sogo one looks like a nightmare.

 

[itareanlnotani]

I checked on the pricing for Marley Solar Tiles.

No stock here, they import them from Europe, and. 5KW / 35m2 is around 230k zar
Vs similar output in normal panels 5kw - around 25k zar.

At almost 10x the price - I think not.

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

...

If I look through the docs, they do effectively force you into getting a new connection even if offgrid.

....

I recall reading about some guy in Somerset West complaining in the media about the charge as he went full off grid.

Looking at my most recent rates bill, if the fee is going to hurt my budget, then I have bigger problems. We have prepaid meter and no, it's not more expensive, it is 100% the same cost as post-paid. CoCT charges me R194 (screenshot is ex-VAT) for my primary home:




CoCT is still good, Overstrand nails me R490 on my place that also has prepaid with their "basic" charge that is very depedent on your profililng and not property value.

 

[rh1]

Yes, unfortunately City Of Cape Town is very hard-up about rules and regulations.
Just imagine the chaos if everybody just build their house how and where they wanted.

COC does have very good aerial photos and they do inspect them for new solar installs.
If they do not find your details on the application system, they send somebody out with a warning letter.
If you do not comply, they will disconnect your power and give you a hefty fine. Currently around R8k.
If not paid, they do not re-connect your power!

Yes, currently Feed-in tariffs does NOT make sense at all.
It is basically free electricity the city can sell back to other consumers, so why not?
And then you still have to pay R15k for a new power meter!!!!

Best is to install a complete off-grid system and just have your geyser and stove connected to the grid.
Just do the correct application procedure and there should be no further issues.

And if you in COCT but get direct from Eskom?

 

[SauRoNZA]

Because it's signing up for a future annual tax

Or you know, it’s just covering liability when your bad installation blows up your neighbours electricity or the sub station pops because too many people are fitting solar.

You are connecting it to THEIR grid, it makes perfect sense that they need to know about it.

 

[SauRoNZA]

What's bizarre is that they only require registration if PV cells are involved. If you have a hybrid-inverter being used solely has an inline UPS backup, but without any PV cells on your roof, then it doesn't seem as if you have to register anything.

Because you aren’t feeding back into the grid.

There’s no potential liability.

Just register the thing. Trying to hide it you are simply going to spite yourself and make your life harder/less productive.

Also they can then sue the crap out of you if it does go wrong.

 

[itareanlnotani]

I recall reading about some guy in Somerset West complaining in the media about the charge as he went full off grid.

Looking at my most recent rates bill, if the fee is going to hurt my budget, then I have bigger problems. We have prepaid meter and no, it's not more expensive, it is 100% the same cost as post-paid. CoCT charges me R194 (screenshot is ex-VAT) for my primary home:


View attachment 1197284

CoCT is still good, Overstrand nails me R490 on my place that also has prepaid with their "basic" charge that is very depedent on your profililng and not property value.

View attachment 1197288

In my case, I'd have to apply for an installation I don't want, pay for installation costs I don't want, and then pay a monthly fee for electricity I don't need or want.

They screw me on water already, I'd rather not get screwed for electricity too.
My water fee is R800 a month for fee's, before I use a drop. Will have another go at trying to get a 20mm connection when I'm back in SA again next year. I have a 50mm, and since the "water shortage", and the subsequent increase in fixed costs, I'm being screwed.