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EE-News
News and announcements from EE Publishers  Issue 154, October 2011
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Registration of electrical contractors: confusion reigns supreme

 

by Chris Yelland, EE Publishers
 
The statutory registration of electrical contractors has been thrown into confusion, and from 1 October 2011 this activity would appear to have become effectively dysfunctional.
 
The Chief Inspector at the Department of Labour, Thobile Lamati, indicated on 4 October 2011 that he would not allow a new arrangement set up by the Electrical Contracting Board and Voltex (a commercial electrical wholesaling company and member of the Bidvest group) for the registration of electrical contractors in South Africa, that was intended to take effect from 1 October 2011.
 
In response to questions by EE Publishers, Thobile Lamati said that "the Chief Inspector will not make such arrangements with a commercial electrical wholesaler" and that "the Chief Inspector will not allow such arrangements to happen".
 
Registration by contractors is a measure required in terms of the Electrical Installation Regulations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. This legislation and associated regulations fall under the control and responsibility of the Department of Labour.
 
The purpose of such registration is to put in place statutory controls to ensure the competence of persons performing work on electrical installations in the home, workplace and built environment, and to control the issuing of certificates of compliance (CoCs) for existing, new and modified electrical installations.
 
The ultimate intention of these control measures is to ensure that electrical installation work is handled and signed-off by accredited persons, meets minimum safety standards, and complies with relevant legislation and regulations in order to ensure public safety. 
 
Because the Department of Labour was apparently not in a position to perform this registration function itself, for the last decade and more the Chief Inspector at the Department has delegated the task to a somewhat obscure industry body called the Electrical Contracting Board (ECB).
 
However, being little more than a committee, with few or no resources of its own, for many years the ECB in turn delegated the physical work of registration of electrical contractors to the well established and resourced Electrical Contractors Association of South Africa, the ECA.
 
The Department of Labour was never entirely happy with this arrangement, but by default went along with it as it was not in a position to undertake the task itself, and there seemed to be few other practical alternatives.
 
But six months ago, the ECA gave notice to terminate the arrangement. It is understood that this was a business decision - the ECA did not consider that its administrative and other costs necessarily incurred in providing the function were being adequately met by the ECB and Department of Labour, and it felt that the ECA was being required pay for (or at least subsidise) the Department's statutory registration function that had been delegated to the ECB.
 
In response to the termination notice given by the ECA, the ECB proceeded to make alternative arrangements for Voltex, through its regional offices, branch offices and electrical wholesalers in South Africa, to act as a service provider to the ECB for the statutory registration of electrical contractors.
 
These new arrangements, due to commence on 1 October 2011, resulted in objections and perceptions of serious conflicts of interest by both the ECA and independent (non-Voltex) electrical wholesalers that a commercial electrical wholesaler group like Voltex should be involved with statutory registration of electrical contractors, who may be existing or potential customers of Voltex for electrical installation materials.
 
Independent electrical wholesalers are concerned that Voltex's handling of the registration of electrical contractors has the potential for anti-competitive behaviour and unfair competition, trade practices and commercial benefit to Voltex that would prejudice and damage their justifiable interests 
 
Both the ECA and independent electrical wholesalers are also concerned about the potential of misuse by Voltex for commercial benefit of the database of registered electrical contractors in South Africa, which they believe would inevitably be in the hands of Voltex.
 
The pronouncement by the Chief Inspector of the Department of Labour appears to have put an end to the new arrangement by the ECB and Voltex that was due to come into effect on 1 October 2011. But it is still unclear what alternative arrangements will be put in place for the registration of electrical contractors.
 
In the meantime there is significant confusion in the industry surrounding the continued administration and implementation of the registration process.

  

Invitation: SESSA Express Breakfast: Business opportunities in renewables

 

The Sustainable Energy Society Southern Africa (SESSA) and EE Publishers cordially invite you, your friends, colleagues and all interested persons to attend the  

 

SESSA Express Breakfast: Opportunities in renewables

 
The SESSA Express Breakfast brings together key players in the renewables sector and presents opportunities to unlock our green economic potential with viable solutions.
 
DATE: 13 October 2011
TIME: 06h30 for 07h00 to 09h00

VENUE: The Industrial Development Corporation

19 Fredman Drive, Sandown (click here for map)
COST: R100 for SESSA members; R150 for non-members
 
This SESSA Express Breakfast Session is proudly sponsored by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC)
 
Click here to register online
 
A key green sector opportunity is currently being supported by the solar water heating rebate programme. The Eskom Task Team has been established with the vision of accelerating installations towards the 20 000 units per month mark from now, until 2014. 

 

- What are some of the opportunities and barriers to achieving this vision?

- How do we work together to support this vision?

 

We are also on the eve of hosting COP17 in Durban later this year, which presents a critical period of negotiation for carbon finance market opportunities. In the context of COP17, South African cities have prioritised the green economy and creating green collar jobs are high on the developmental agenda.

 

- What vision does City of Joburg have for creating a world class green city?

- How does one develop a project under the current scenario?

  (some local case studies)

- What is the future of carbon markets? 

 

In what promises to be a critical and exciting period for renewables, the SESSA Express Breakfast is a networking platform to maximise your presence and explore unique green economic opportunities.
 
PRESENTERS
 
- Andrew Etzinger, senior general manager, Eskom IDM
- Rafikh Ismail, IDC Green Industries SBU
- Chris Nelson, Tasol Solar
- Thabo Mahlatsi, director of Energy Sector, City of Johannesburg
- Henk Sa, MD of EcoMetrix Africa
 
FURTHER INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION
 
Click here to register online 

Click here for a map to the venue
Click here for further information 
 
For registration queries, call Marlindi Bosch, Tel: 011 789 1384
For general queries, call Irvan Damon, SESSA, Tel: 011 513 4071

 
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In this issue...
Registration of electrical contractors: confusion reigns supreme
Invitation: SESSA Express Breakfast: Business opportunities in renewables
Your journals...
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Energize_e-Zine_September_2011

 

 

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EngineerIT

 

 

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