ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade Non-US Electrical Systems & Trades Living off the grid

Yes, Paul, it was, it curtailed any such competition to the Electricity Corporation,
another Monopoly, that died a violent death in 1993, thank God.
In my copy of the old 1976 Electrical Wiring
Regulations, it was a Summary Offence under
Regulation 78, to own, operate or install, any equipment for the purposes of supplying
a domestic installation, where a supply from a Supply Authority is available.

[This message has been edited by Trumpy (edited 12-09-2002).]

Sheesh... And I was under the illusion that NZ might actually be a little more free than the U.K.

Shouldn't that be $.117 KWH? Darn fingers running ahead of the mind again, eh?

The cheapest electricity cost I remember seeing in the U.S. was 3.5 cents per unit in Louisiana. That was about 6 years or so ago though, so it might be a bit more by now. Probably need it that cheap to keep the air-con running in summer down there, especially for those sun-birds moving in from more northerly latitudes!

Re the REP, I understand there was a similar post-WWII rural electrification program in Ireland. I'm not sure if there are any details about that on the ESB website -- I'll check.

Edit: Couldn't find much on-line at the moment in the ESB site itself, but I found this item which was pulled from the ESB archives:
http://www.quietmancelebrations.com/esb.htm

Here's another story found during the search that you might find amusing. Compare these events of 50 years ago with the boom in Ireland in recent years of high-tech businesses:
http://homepage.tinet.ie/~abbeydorney/book/page2.html


[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 12-09-2002).]

oops...yup $.117.....

Paul,
It was interesting to see that once the '76
Regs were repealed, in 92, the arms of the regulators, were wide open to anyone who wanted to install any of this sort of equipment.
Because, for reasons of Civil Defence,or any other Essential service, you had to ask permission, from the general Manager of the
Electricity Corporation, to even have these
protected by a Generator.
In my opinion, this Government owned Corporation, had way too much power(this is not a pun),but it was good to see that they lost it in the end.
We have a lot more freedom, these days, it was like living in the old Russia.

How on earth did they figure that this relates to civil defense?

If I want to install a backup generator or or PV/battery system or whatever, as far I as I'm concerned the govt. has no right to stop me from doing so.

As a matter of interest, did anyone ever challange this law, or was anyone ever prosecuted for breaking it?

Sorry Paul,
I think that I should have worded that better.
It was only Civil Defence and Hospitals and
other Essential Services, that were allowed
to have Backup(No-Break) systems, even for these an application had to be made,I suppose
it was because they wanted to know what could
possibly Back-Feed into the Grid, I am not sure, things are better now, I think!.
Sorry about the confusion.

Ah, now I get it. I just misread your statement (O.K., I was in too much of a hurry and didn't pause at those commas )

Setting up a power grid in your neighborhood is one thing, but I still don't see that the govt. has any right to tell me that I can't try to cater for my own electrical needs.

That reminds me: Do you ever run into those people who want to set up their own generator purely because they are suffering from the delusion that it will be cheaper than paying the local PoCo? (I mean cheaper per unit, not any considerations over how much it would cost to get lines installed).



[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 12-12-2002).]

Oh yes, Paul, there are people over here who have an aversion to paying a Power company, for services like providing the power lines into thier houses, maintenance of the lines, that feed thier street, you name it, I've heard it all.
A lot of these people are part of the New Age
movement, who are against the EMF's from the normal AC supply, try and explain that all Electrical supplies create EMF's, you will lose, they are just one-eyed, somehow DC is
better, in thier opinion, it does not create
an EMF.Bull!

Trumpy -- some are trying hard to make a ruble at it... http://www.lessemf.com/personal.html

Order your "SafeGuard APRON" and "FARADAY CANOPY KIT" now!