Inverters that do not meet the distances recommended by the manufacturer and are installed in a warehouse without separation.
Image: Y Tu
ThailandThe Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) opens an investigation into substandard solar system installations.
The investigation follows reports of equipment failure, including signs of melting and burning.
An update published by OCPB confirms that Thailand’s Consumer Protection Board (CPB) is currently helping 17 homeowners affected by inadequate or dangerous solar installations. They are located in Khon Kaen Province, Saraburi Province and the Tha Phra area of Bangkok’s Thonburi District.
At a meeting earlier this week by Supamas Isarabhakdi, a minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, three of the affected homeowners revealed the faulty solar installations. They also said their electricity bills had not gone down after the installation of the panels, adding that the solar installer has refused to take any responsibility.
Local press in Thailand reports that preliminary investigations into the faulty solar installations have revealed several technical errors, including the use of aluminum wiring instead of copper wiring and contractors changing the home’s electrical system from three-phase to single-phase.
OCPB’s update advises consumers experiencing similar issues to file complaints either via the hotline or online, before adding that Thailand’s CPB has the authority to prosecute. “The circumstances may constitute a criminal offense for selling deceptive goods, punishable by both prison sentences and fines,” the board said.
Minister Isarabhakdi has instructed the CPB to upgrade the solar panel installation sector to a so-called regulated contract sector, whereby standards and specifications for the equipment must be specified in all contracts. The minister also said solar energy-related products should be subject to specific labeling requirements and called on consumers to check appliances before purchasing them.
The OCPB statement added that government representatives met with stakeholders from the Thai Industrial Standards Institute, the Metropolitan Electricity Authority and the Provincial Electricity Authority to discuss ways to protect consumers and prevent such incidents from happening again.
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