The Knysna Bulldog
THE Knysna municipality plans to punish electricity consumers who decide to go off the grid and provide their own electricity with solar panels and batteries.
The intention is clearly stated in the draft municipal budget which sates “We are introducing a penalty tariff in the 2023-24 budget for customers (who go off grid and) are not notifying the municipality.”
No details are given but the move comes at a time when the central government is encouraging consumers to go solar with special tax breaks.
This makes sense because when people generate their own electricity there will be more Eskom and municipal electricity available for hospitals and the poor as well as for business and industry which are the job creators in our economy.
Mr Richard Thorpe, chairman of the Hunters Home, Rexford and Fisher Haven Residents Association, said solar panels and batteries were a far better alternative than dirty, noisy diesel generators which many businesses were forced to use. “This is so obvious that I am surprised the Council has not introduced incentives to encourage the change to quiet, clean electricity.”
He pointed out that many countries like Australia had introduced financial rewards for consumers who invested in solar panels. Many States in America had adopted a “net metering” policy which allowed home owners to sell their surplus electricity back to the grid.
He said the Western Cape Government supported rooftop solar and was eager to advise and help municipalities supplement supplies and to go solar.
“It is astonishing that our municipality seems to have turned its back on the world as well as good common sense and now wants punish residents who do the right thing.”
The reasons for the move were clear. In the draft budget the motive for this backward step was given as “some customers are applying to get completely off the grid” which will lead to a “possible reduction in both consumption and basic charge”.
Mr Thorpe said this made it clear that the municipality was more interested in getting our money than fostering the economic health of our town.