Illegal change of circuit breakers slows households' switch to solar systems — JEPCO

AMMAN — The illegal change of circuit breakers in households delays the process of issuing approvals for installing solar systems at these houses, according to the Jordanian Electric Power Co. Ltd. (JEPCO). 

“There have been several complaints over the past period that there are delays by the power companies to issue approvals allowing households to install solar systems to generate power at homes," said Hassan Abdullah, strategic asset manager at JEPCO.

"This is not true. A major problem we face is that many households change the circuit breaker, which is illegal and delays the process,” Abdullah said in a recent interview with The Jordan Times.

"It takes time [for households] to rectify their situation," he added. 

The official noted that the majority of houses in the country have changed circuit breakers which is in violation of the contract between power companies and households.

Wujdan Rabadi, a commissioner at the Energy and Mineral Resources Commission (EMRC), agreed.

“There is no delay at all. It is just about technical issues," Rabadi said.

"In addition, many people ask for installing systems that generate capacities more than they need, which is something that we do not approve, as the law stipulates that households install systems that only meet their needs," she added.

"If users ration the use of electricity after installing solar systems they might be able to sell the surplus electricity to power companies," Rabadi said.

Several citizens and employees at companies that provide solar systems have complained of delays in the procedures required to install photovoltaic systems in households.

Hussein Nidal, an owner of one of these companies, said the delays in issuing approvals is bad for business.

Since the endorsement of the Renewable Energy Law in 2012 in Jordan, households, mosques and public entities that consume from 1 kilowatt to 5 megawatts a month have installed photovoltaic systems and connected to the grid. 

At present, 255 applications are under study and will be connected to the grid by the end of 2014, according to the EMRC.

By year end, there will be 765 users who are generating their own electricity through photovoltaic systems with a total capacity of about 30 megawatts.