Eskom has extended its waiver of registration fees for direct customers with rooftop solar systems rated up to 50kVA. This time, the power utility has not set an end date.
Eskom announced the extension on the evening of 30 September 2026, according to MyBroadband. That was the same day the waiver was due to end.
The free registration was first meant to end on 31 March 2026. Eskom then moved the deadline to 30 September. It said the new extension will stay in place until further notice.
“Registration is a standard feature of modern electricity systems as countries integrate increasing levels of customer-owned generation into their networks,” said Eskom distribution head Junaid Munshi.
Eskom said the extension does not change the rule itself. Qualifying solar systems that are connected to the grid must still be registered.
The utility said it supports the growth of home solar. It said it wants more customers to take part in the country’s energy transition.
Munshi said registration helps customer solar connect safely to a network that serves everyone. He said it also prepares the way for two-way smart meters, fitting tariffs and credits, and future flexibility services.
Eskom said it looked at 20 electricity markets around the world. It found that registering, notifying or getting approval for grid-connected solar was common practice.
The countries it studied included Australia, Brazil, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Spain, the UK and the US. Eskom said the rules usually become stricter as systems get bigger.
The waiver only covers customers connected directly to Eskom’s distribution grid. People who buy power from their municipality must follow their municipality’s own rules and charges.
“Customers supplied by municipalities must comply with the requirements of their relevant licensed municipal distributor,” Eskom said.
Eskom said the need to register comes from the Electricity Regulation Act of 2006, read with the Exemption and Registration Notice. It said the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) requires registration for any system with a point of connection to the grid.
Systems larger than 100kW that connect to the grid must register directly with NERSA, Eskom said. Only off-grid systems, with no connection to the grid, do not need to register.
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has said an electrical certificate of compliance is the only legal requirement for a grid-connected system.
Eskom disagreed. It said the certificate and registration do different jobs. “A CoC confirms compliance with applicable electrical safety requirements,” it said. Registration, it said, records where a system is, what technology it uses and how big it is.
Munshi said Eskom wants to make the rules clear, easy and affordable for customers.
“We want to assist customers with registering qualifying installations as simply as possible while supporting the safety of customers, contractors, employees and the broader network,” he said.
Source: this article is based on reporting by MyBroadband. Image: MyBroadband. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Business desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Anelisa Nkuna covers business and money news for Tzaneen Voice. Anelisa reports on the rand, fuel prices, interest rates, jobs, Eskom, Transnet, farming and company results. The aim is simple: explain what the numbers mean for household budgets, small businesses and workers in South Africa.