Eskom Extends Assistance to Customers to Register Their Grid-Tied Solar Installations

Eskom will extend its waiver of registration-related charges beyond 30 September 2026 for eligible customer-owned generation systems of up to 50kVA connected directly to its distribution network. The waiver has been extended until further notice.

The extension removes registration-related charges for eligible customers but does not change the underlying regulatory requirement for qualifying grid-connected generation facilities to be registered.

“Eskom supports the continued growth of residential solar and greater customer participation in the energy transition, which Eskom has reviewed to align with international best practice. Registration is a standard feature of modern electricity systems as countries integrate increasing levels of customer-owned generation into their networks. The process enables customer-owned generation to be safely and efficiently integrated into a shared network that serves all customers, while laying the foundation for bidirectional smart metering, appropriate tariffs and credits, and future flexibility services,” said Junaid Munshi, Eskom Group Executive for Distribution.

The extension gives qualifying Eskom-direct residential customers additional time to register their grid-connected rooftop solar installations without paying Eskom’s registration-related charges, while supporting the safe, reliable and efficient integration of customer-generated electricity into the grid.

The waiver applies to qualifying customers supplied directly by Eskom. Customers supplied by municipalities should engage their relevant licensed municipal redistributor regarding applicable registration requirements and charges.

Registration aligns with international practice

The registration of grid-connected rooftop solar installations is not unique to Eskom or South Africa. Eskom’s review of 20 international electricity markets found that notification, registration or approval of customer-owned generation is commonly required through a regulator, municipality or local grid operator before connection to the grid or commissioning of a solar PV system. Similar requirements are widely used internationally to support network safety, power quality, system planning and the protection of employees and contractors working on electricity networks.

The review further found that registration requirements are generally based on system capacity and become more rigorous as the size and complexity of the installation increases.

The 20 markets reviewed included Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Uganda, the United Kingdom and parts of the United States.

The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA), in a statement published on 31 March 2026, reaffirmed that the registration of grid-connected Small-Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) systems supports worker safety, grid stability, and regulatory compliance. The association further noted that registration is a critical component of the responsible integration of rooftop solar into South Africa’s electricity system.

Why registration matters

The requirement to register a grid-connected embedded generation facility is established in the Electricity Regulation Act of 2006, read with the applicable Exemption and Registration Notice.

According to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), the registration requirement is based on an installation having a point of connection to the electricity grid and its installed capacity, and not by electricity being exported to the grid or consumed entirely on site. Registration supports the safe, reliable and efficient operation of the electricity system, including compliance with technical standards, network planning and protection of the electricity network.

Accordingly, NERSA has mandated the following:

• Embedded generation facilities with an installed capacity of 100kW or less and a point of connection to the electricity grid must be registered with the relevant licensed distributor, either Eskom or the applicable municipality.
• Embedded generation facilities with an installed capacity of more than 100kW and a point of connection to the electricity grid must be registered directly with NERSA.
• Embedded generation facilities without a point of connection to the electricity grid are exempt from registration requirements.

Registration provides electricity distributors with installation-specific information needed for network planning, voltage management, equipment protection, fault analysis and the safety of employees and contractors working on the network.

A Certificate of Compliance (CoC) and registration serve different purposes. A CoC confirms compliance with applicable electrical safety requirements, while registration provides information regarding the location, technology and installed capacity of generation facilities connected to the electricity network. NERSA has clarified that registration does not duplicate the electrical safety certification process.

Eskom’s approach

Eskom’s immediate priority remains education, assistance and supported regularisation.

The extension of the waiver does not change the underlying regulatory requirement for qualifying grid-connected generation facilities to be registered. Rather, it removes registration-related costs for eligible Eskom-direct customers and provides additional time for customers to complete the process.

“Our focus is to make compliance clear, accessible and affordable. We want to assist customers with registering qualifying installations as simply as possible while supporting the safety of customers, contractors, employees and the broader electricity network,” said Munshi.

Eskom prefers to provide customers with clear information and a reasonable opportunity to register qualifying installations and ensure they meet applicable requirements.

How to register

Eligible customers can obtain information and begin the registration process through Eskom’s Small-Scale Embedded Generation registration platform.

Notes

• The waiver applies to eligible customer-owned generation systems of up to 50 kVA connected directly to Eskom’s distribution network.
• The waiver will remain in effect until further notice from Eskom.
• Customers supplied by municipalities must comply with the requirements of their relevant licensed municipal distributor.
• Media reports have noted that some insurers encourage customers to ensure rooftop solar installations are appropriately installed, declared and registered where required as part of broader compliance and risk-management considerations.
• Registration and a Certificate of Compliance serve different purposes and are not interchangeable. NERSA has clarified that registration does not duplicate the electrical safety certification process. [nersa.org.za]
• NERSA has stated that registration supports the safe integration of embedded generation and protects the integrity of the electricity network and the interests of electricity users. [nersa.org.za]
• In a statement issued on 31 March 2026, titled “SAPVIA Welcomes Eskom’s Extension of Solar Registration Fee Waiver; Calls for Urgent Municipal Alignment to Support solar PV adoption”, the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) expressed its support for the registration of grid-connected SSEG installations.
• Eskom’s review of international electricity markets found that registration, notification or approval requirements for grid-connected solar installations are common international practice. These requirements are typically administered through utilities, municipalities, regulators or network operators and generally become more rigorous as the size and complexity of the installation increases.

Courtesy of Eskom

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