EAC Mandates Self-Declaration for Solar Installers to Ensure National Electricity Balance

• 8 July 2024
• Property Focus
• 2424 Views

The Electricity Authority of Cambodia (EAC) has issued a notice requiring all consumers who have installed and used solar systems on their roofs without permission to submit a declaration regarding the use of their solar system. This directive is based on letter No. 085. PK.24, dated 5 July 2024, and aims to maintain a balance in electricity consumption across the country.

According to the notice, consumers must apply at the office of Electricite du Cambodge (EDC) or the office of the private electricity supplier in their area if they are using electricity. The deadline for submission is 15 August 2024. This initiative underscores the importance of balancing electricity consumption for both national grid users and solar system users, ensuring a fair distribution of power resources.

The directive also highlighted that allowing electricity users connected to the national grid to install and use solar roof systems simultaneously would hinder the practicality of developing solar power stations. The integration of solar systems is cost-effective and reduces the overall cost of electricity for all consumers.

Solar system users connected to the national grid benefit from solar energy, supplementing the demand for electricity balance and freeing up the national grid’s capacity. This could potentially lower the cost of electricity generation and impact other consumers who do not have installed solar power systems.

Moreover, the EAC has mandated that solar power installers will need to provide compensation in the future. However, this compensation will only be required from large consumers such as industrial plants, businesses, hotels, or large buildings intending to install medium to large-sized solar power systems. General public installations of solar systems on rooftops with a power of no more than 10 kilowatts, equivalent to approximately 16 large solar panels or about 20 medium-sized panels covering a roof area of about 120 to 200 square metres, will not be required to provide compensation.

This move by the EAC is designed to ensure a sustainable and equitable distribution of electricity, promoting the use of renewable energy while maintaining the stability of the national grid.

• Laws and Regulation
• Energy and Environment