Electric security wire fence

I have a house which has an electric security wire fence installed seven years ago. I was recently visited by people who introduced themselves as officers of EWURA who asked me why I have not put a warning in my electric wire fence to alert people that the fence is dangerous. Secondly, they asked me if the electric system in my house has been inspected within five years from the date of installation. I doubt the legality of these queries made by the people from EWURA because it looks like they are interfering with my own security measures and privacy. Can you please guide.

EW, Lindi

Rule 18 of the Electricity (Electrical Installation Services) Rules, 2015 requires a person installing an electric security wire fence to ensure that animals and people may not easily access the electric wire fence. In ensuring safety of other people, the Rules required a warning to be put in the fence which reads “DANGER ELECTRIC FENCE- HATARI UZIO WA UMEME”. However, these Rules were revoked and replaced by the Electricity (Electric Installation Services) Rules, 2019 which do not have a similar requirement of putting a warning in the electric security wire fence as the revoked 2015 Rules. Hence under the new rules, such warning is not required any longer.

With regard to inspection of the electric system of a house, the Rules prescribes the interval of inspecting the electric system of houses depending on the use of the house. Houses used for residence like yours must be inspected periodically within an interval of not more than 5 years. Periodic inspection of electric system in a house has to be done by a registered electrical engineer or technician and the periodic inspection certificate signed by the inspector has to be kept by the owner or occupier of the premises. In the absence of the periodic inspection certificate, the house becomes ineligible for power supply and EWURA may appoint a qualified person to undertake the inspection at the owner’s or occupier’s cost.

Failure to hire a qualified and registered person to undertake periodic inspection of the electric system in a house is a breach of the law and such breach attracts a fine of not less than TZS 300,000. EWURA has the power to compound the offence if the occupier or the owner of the premises admits in writing the offence of failure to undertake the periodic inspection of the electric system and is ready to pay the fine prescribed under the law.

We have noted that many occupiers and house owners are not aware of the mandatory requirement to inspect the electric system of the house every 5 years.