Businesses rush to remove illegal solar panels before EAC checks

Local EACSolar energysolar powerTop News Businesses rush to remove illegal solar panels before EAC checks Relevant News Nine break-ins hit two Nicosia villages within hours 8 September 2026 Bill to legalize illegal boreholes, fines up to €3,000 8 September 2026 Former Othello cinema ruled dangerous, health hazard found inside 8 September 2026 Charalambos Zakos 8 September 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Business owners across Cyprus rushed to tear out illegal solar systems ahead of an ongoing round of inspections by the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC), after the utility ran an awareness campaign warning that checks were coming. The head start explains why EAC has so far confirmed only 22 violations during on-site inspections in recent days, though the actual number of breaches appears far higher. Several owners appear to have either fully uninstalled their solar systems or removed the extra, unlicensed panels for which they had not applied and had not secured the required permits, Phileleftheros was told. The numbers so far According to EAC figures, 110 cases were initially flagged as suspicious. Of these, 77 have been inspected so far, with violations confirmed in 22. The owners involved were told to either remove the entire solar system or take down the extra, unlicensed panels they had installed. The inspections are continuing and will not be limited to the original 110 cases, EAC said. The utility plans further checks at other properties, since the process is still under way and the evidence so far suggests the problem is not confined to premises already examined. The violations confirmed so far do not involve residential solar systems, but installations at hotels, restaurants and shops, based on the data collected to date. Checks on residential installations are expected to follow once the inspection of commercial premises is complete. The method EAC uses to flag suspicious cases is fairly simple. EAC’s software flags properties whose electricity use falls well below the expected average, and if there is no registered application for a solar installation, an inspection is triggered. What EAC can impose Specialist EAC teams operating in every district visit properties where such discrepancies are found and ask to inspect the premises. If a violation is confirmed, the system is disconnected immediately. The property owner is then asked to pay 200 euros to cover the cost of the investigation. This amount is not charged to those who are inspected but found to have no violation, according to information passed to Phileleftheros. After disconnection, EAC asks owners to follow the standard procedure and apply for a legal solar installation. No work may be carried out on the Authority’s network without an application and a prior inspection by an EAC crew. EAC informs the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority (CERA) of every case in which a violation is confirmed. For standalone houses, a further inspection is required, carried out by the Electromechanical Service. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Nine break-ins hit two Nicosia villages within hours Bill to legalize illegal boreholes, fines up to €3,000 Former Othello cinema ruled dangerous, health hazard found inside Christodoulides, al-Sisi and Mitsotakis meet in El Alamein today Ayia Napa house fire damages storage shed and parked car Pension reform: three off-limits issues now back on the table DISY set to push presidential succession decision into October Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.