By Lerato Ndlovu
The Government of Zimbabwe has issued out a new statutory instrument (SI) 2019- 235 Electricity (Solar Water Heating) Regulations, that speaks on the exclusion of electric geysers so as to conserve electricity considering that the country is facing massive load sheddings.
The SI states that “it is hereby notified that the Minister of Energy and Power Development, in terms of section 65(q) of the Electricity Act [Chapter 13:19] and after consultation with the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority, has made the following regulations:
“To regulate the installation, licensing, operation, repair, maintenance, retrofit and upgrade of solar water heating systems for the production of sanitary hot water to save electricity.
“All new buildings will have to be fitted with solar geysers and those who need electric geysers will need to apply for a special exemption,” it reads.
It goes on to state that these regulations shall not apply to existing premises with electrical geysers.
“These regulations shall apply to all property developers, architects, engineers and users of electricity and users of hot water.” It reads “These regulations shall not apply to existing premises with electrical geysers,”
Below is the full SI 2019-235