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Would You Do Your Own Brain Surgery?

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For many years consumers had a modicum of protection when it came to protecting themselves from being electrocuted or maimed. Our authorities were very strident when it came to ensuring that unqualified persons did not do work on any electrical installation. Combined with that electrical goods suppliers only dealt with registered electricians at their trade counters, electricians had very close working relationships with their local municipalities and ensured that they followed the rules and safety guidelines.

As an old participant (some may say ‘Ancient’!) in the electrical contracting industry I well remember the opening of Gqeberha’s very first DIY Electrical Supply shop – then (and still now) I find it very difficult to stomach someone ‘aiding and abetting’ a private citizen to do electrical work that may invalidate their insurance and/or place their families in danger.

BUT, the biggest sin in my mind is the large suppliers who supply to all and sundry at the same price without ensuring that the client is at least qualified to do the work in a safe and acceptable manner and issue a CoC once it is done. After all – would you trust your brother’s friend’s girlfriend’s cousin, who is in Grade 11 to prescribe antibiotics for you?

Solar Installations combine a number of learned skills in order to complete the task – electrical, mechanical, roofing, safety. The proper tools required are expensive and necessary to ensure a proper and safe installation that will last 20 years. The experienced installer will be in a better position to also specify the correct Balance of System components to ensure that your entire system last for 20 years.

To assist you in your decision around who to choose for your project making Straton Solar developed a Solar Installer Best Practices checklist for you to download and use in your journey to energy freedom.

And now it would appear that the CGSO (Consumer Goods and Services Ombud) has been lumped with the problem of unscrupulous suppliers and dubious installers in the Solar Energy Industry and has issued an alert that it has seen an uptick in the number of complaints about solar systems and generators – saying that almost 50% of suppliers are simply refusing to cooperate with the office’s investigations.

The ombud says that from 1 February 2022 to 9 February 2023, there were 202 complaints relating to solar systems and generators.

Most of these complaints relate to the following:

  • Installers are failing to issue compliance certificates to show that their products comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act. This includes not disclosing the criteria that need to be met for such a compliance certificate to be issued, or that an additional fee needs to be paid.
  • Accepting payment and not delivering the goods or not installing the systems within the agreed timeframes.
  • Poor workmanship and installation.
  • Warranties not being honoured.
  • Incorrect equipment bought either by or for consumers, and suppliers refusing to accept returns.
  • No aftercare services.
  • Misleading advertising relating to the type, size and wattage of inverters, solar panels and batteries.
  • Inflated prices for panels, inverters, batteries and installation services.

The ombud, Magauta Mphahlele, advises against going the DIY route with solar as most consumers lack awareness and technical knowledge about the product and installation. Incorrect installation could also nullify the manufacturer’s warranties.

“Consumers are, generally speaking, not clued up on the requirements of systems or their limitations. As a result, consumers are suffering enormous financial losses by purchasing incorrect equipment and/or appointing unqualified installers.”

Forty-six percent of cases have had to be terminated due to a lack of cooperation from suppliers. Mphahlele says this is of great concern because it meant that complainants did not receive any redress.

“This outcome proves that there are high levels of non-compliance around the Consumer Protection Act [CPA] in this sector, and we call on suppliers and installers of solar systems and generators to ensure that their service standards meet the requirements of the CPA and other manufacturing and safety standards required in terms of other laws of this country.”

So far, the ombud has resolved 134 complaints, giving consumers a total of R277,273 in refunds. It has also instructed suppliers to rectify shoddy workmanship and replace faulty inverters, solar panels, generators and batteries.

Solar Installation Tool Kit
Some of the tools your installer will have in his/her Solar Installation Tool Kit

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.