Botswana - Apply for Customer-Owned Solar Generation (Small Business Commercial Customer)

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Procedure

Apply Online

1. The application for Customer-Owned Solar Generation (Small Business Commercial Consumer) shall be made to the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC), using the BPC online platform. Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) website
2. Upon accessing the BPC home page, locate and select the “Roof-Top Solar Application” option, you will be redirected to the Application Customer-Owned Solar Generation
3. If you meet the eligibility criteria, please tick all the checkboxes listed on the site, and under the “Select Type of User Category” drop-box, select “Commercial Customer on Small Business” then click on the “Continue” tab.
4. Then proceed and complete all the mandatory fields on the application form, upload all the supporting documentation as listed on the site.
5. Please ensure that all the information and supporting documentation are in order, before clicking on the “Submit” button.
6. Upon receipt of the application file, the BPC department responsible will verify if all the information and documentation are in order, for assessment, processing, and consideration.
7. If all documents are in order, BPC puts the consumer and the amount in the queue. The capacity request is subtracted from the running balance of Programme capacity available. The BPC will conduct necessary studies or analyses to confirm availability requests at the Point of Connection.
8. For Photovoltaic (PV) systems greater than 100 kW, the application will be automatically forwarded to Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (BERA) for review and issuance of a Licence to the consumer. BERA will inform BPC of the issuance of such applicable authorization.
9. Notice of the decision (Approval, Deferral, or Rejection) for the application will be communicated by the BPC or the BERA to the client, using the applicable notification mode (writing /phone/email).
10. An application fee of P1000 will be paid by the potential consumer upon approval of their application; however for commercial and industrial customers applying for systems above 100kW, they will pay a license fee, in addition to the application fee mentioned above.
11. The consumer will also be responsible for the full cost associated with procuring and installing the Rooftop Solar System as well as connecting the system to the grid. The consumer will engage third parties such as a licensed Electrician, Technician, or Engineer to design the solar system.
12. The BPC, or its representative, may elect to witness the commissioning of the solar system. Authorized representatives of BPC may be a Licensed Electrician, Technicians, or Engineers. For systems sized between 100 kW to 1 MW, BERA may also witness the commissioning.
13. After the installation process has been completed, the solar system will be required to be inspected and certified by the BPC representative. The Certification process shall be to ensure that the system meets all the conditions of the Interconnection Agreement.
14. Upon Certification, the consumer and the BPC representative shall sign the Certificate of Completion on behalf of BPC, deeming the Interconnection Agreement (ICA) as final and in effect. Beneficiaries will be issued with a copy of the certified Certificate of Completion.
15. The BPC will maintain a Registry of such systems, providing access to BERA, that will include information provided from the Application and any other relevant data. BPC will regularly monitor for Permits (ICA) expiring, while BERA will monitor for licenses that may be expiring.

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Required Documents

• Completed application form.
• If a tenant applies for the system, the landlord’s written consent should be provided (Affidavit).
• Proof of Ownership or Tenancy (Title Deed / Lease Agreement)
• Identity card or Passport for non-citizens (in case of an individual)
• Valid Certificate of incorporation (in case of a company)
• Any other additional documentation as, listed on the online form.

Office Locations & Contacts

Botswana Power Corporation (BPC)
Head office
Address: Main Mall Gaborone, South East
Botswana
Telephone: +267-3607000
Call us at 16266
SMS at 77110000 or 74600900
Email: [email protected]
BPC Branches Contact details and Map Location
BPC website

Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (BERA)
Address: Plot 8842, Extension Town CentreLobatse,
Botswana
Tel: (+267) 533 0932
Fax: (+267) 533 0880
Toll-Free: 0800 00 2372
Email: [email protected]
BERA Contact details and Map Location
BERA website

Eligibility

To be eligible one has:

• You must be a BPC consumer and have title to the RTS system, sited on the same property as your meter.
• Size your RTS system such that it generates no more than 110% of your previous 12-month consumption, and has a capacity of no more than:
  • 35 kW of generating capacity for domestic consumers
  • 1 MW of generating capacity for C&I consumers
• Your system must be designed and installed by a licensed electrician or certified engineering professional, meeting all codes and standards for grid interconnection.
• Adhere to the limitations in capacity and sizing.
• Consumers should be in good standing with BPC.
• Rooftop Solar System applicants in arrears will not be considered

Fees

• Upon approval, an application fee of P1000 will be paid to the BPC office by the potential consumer.
• For commercial and industrial customers applying for systems above 100kW, they will pay a license fee, in addition to the application fee.

Validity

• Any approved Rooftop Solar project will be given an Interconnection Agreement and/or Licence of 15 years, upon which time it will require renewal.
• The consumer is notified 60 days before the expiry date of the current license by the BPC to renew their license.

Documents to Use

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Sample Documents

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Processing Time

Please explain processing time taken in obtaining the document/certificate.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Instructions

Important Notes:

• The Rooftop Solar (RTS) Programme will run for a period of 3 years, effective November 2020; and upon its completion be evaluated for changes.
• In the first 12 months, the system-wide aggregate capacity of the Programme, which starts in November 2020, is 10 megawatts (MW). Twenty percent (2MW) of the capacity is reserved for domestic consumers and eighty percent (8MW) for commercial and industrial consumers.
• Applications shall be opened on the 30th November 2020, until the aggregate capacity limit of 10MW is reached. The interested consumers will apply through an online application system that can be accessed directly on the BPC website. Right of entry is on a first come first served basis, until the aggregate capacity limit of 10MW is reached
• One can start the installation of the solar system as soon as BPC or BERA has granted you the authority to proceed with the project.
• The system is eligible to be put into service upon certification. Upon Certification, the BPC representative shall sign the Certificate of Completion on behalf of BPC, deeming the interconnection agreement (ICA) as final and in effect. For those that require licensing it will be after BERA has certified the installation and issued a license.
• In the event of the Programme’s termination, any RTS-approved projects will be eligible to continue to operate their RTS under the terms and conditions of the Programme for the duration of the term of their permit or license.

Required Information

• Full name of the applicant/company
• Contact details (telephone/cell phone number, email, fax ,website)
• Identity document number (in case of an individual)
• Registration certificate (in case of a company)
• Address where the system is being installed
• Full names of the owner/landlord (In case of a lease)
• Affidavit from the landlord (if the tenant is filling the application)

Need for the Document

• Rooftop Solar Programme is a Programme developed as a means of creating an enabling environment for end-users to generate their own electricity through solar energy and sell the excess to the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC). It also presents a suitable mechanism to facilitate private sector participation and increase the uptake of solar energy.

Information which might help

ROOFTOP SOLAR GUIDELINES
ROOFTOP SOLAR PROGRAMME QUESTIONS

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

BOTSWANA ROOFTOP SOLAR PROGRAMME

Others

More information which might help people.