With the resurgence of load shedding in the country, the search by residents for alternative electricity sources such as uninterrupted power supplies (UPS) and, more specifically, generators have increased to keep their laptops and alarms running.
But, what exactly is allowed by the City of Cape Town’s (CoCT) electricity power supply by-law concerning generators?
There are two types of generators which can be installed by residents, namely “embedded, and stand-by generators” according to Councillor Beverley van Reenen, Mayco member for energy.
Stand-alone generators
“Most small diesel generators are standby generators that operate separately from the City’s electrical network. These are also known as stand-alone generators,” Van Reenen says.
Standby generators are becoming more popular to minimise the inconvenience of load-shedding, and are operated in isolation from the electricity network.
“If residents are installing a stand-alone generator, they do not need permission to keep it, however they may still need approval for installation,” explains Van Reenen.
The City’s electricity supply by-law reiterates this statement in several sections that residents have to submit an application if a stand-alone generator is going to be used on a private property.
“It is important to be considerate of neighbours when using a stand-alone diesel generator. Noise levels shouldn’t exceed residual noise levels by more than five decibels (dBAs). If the City receives a complaint, a notice to cease will be issued,” Van Reenen says.
Laws regarding noise, and the disturbance of peace when using a generator, seems flexible, with no time capsule indicated in the by-law if the noise levels stay below five dBAs.
Embedded generators
“Embedded generators are tied to the grid and are permanently installed on a property, allowing a seamless power use transition from grid to generator,” according to Van Reenen.
Most households will refrain from using an embedded generator for day to day household purposes as the installation process is more rigorous, however a small-scale photovoltaic (solar) system as an embedded generator is used by many households.
“Here households that meet certain embedded generation requirements have the option of feeding electricity back into the grid,” says Van Reenen.
“If residents want to connect to the existing internal wiring of their property, whether they are planning on feeding back to the grid or not, they would need to apply to the City for authorisation.”
