**SOLAR ROOFTOP SELF GENERATION- CONSULTATION DATE CHANGE**
Please read the notice below from DoE and URA about a consultation being held this week Friday 5th April in Port Vila on Solar – please note this is your opportunity to come and ask questions and give your opinion about solar tariffs and future plans for taxes and changes to legislation.
The Department of Energy (DoE) through the Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) is the leading Government agency responsible for the development of energy policies, legislations and regulations to guide the development of energy services in Vanuatu and improve service delivery. Its principal policy, the National Energy Road Map (NERM) 2016-2030 stipulates that by 2030, Vanuatu should move out from traditional energies and transition to more renewable and sustainable energies. Similarly, Pillar 2 of the People’s Plan ECO 2.1 states that there should be increase in renewables energy sources to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels.
Section 4 (3)(a) of the Electricity Supply Act of 2021 provides for the promotion of solar rooftop implementation permitting any person to generate electricity exclusively for his or her own use in that person’s dwelling house, business or other facility, vehicle or vessel within any concession area. This implies that any person who has an existing contract with UNELCCO, VUI or VANPAWA is eligible to also have a rooftop solar to subsidize the cost of his/her electricity. For instance, using solar by day and grid electricity by night.
Given this amendment to the ESA, The Department of Energy, Utilities Regulatory Authority and the Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce will conduct further dialogue on the concerns and queries relating to solar roof top on Friday 5th April 2024 from 9 am to 12 am at the Epauto Multipurpose Hall. The Department cordially invites all business house, interested general public and all energy stakeholders to attend this very important event to share feedbacks, raise concerns and ask questions during that 3 hour session. The Multipurpose Hall is located at Epauto School uphill from the Bank of the South Pacific Freswota.
