South Africans with grid-connected rooftop solar systems have until 30 September 2026 to take advantage of Eskom’s current waiver on registration- and connection-related charges for eligible systems. The concession applies to Eskom customers with Small Scale Embedded Generation systems of up to 50kVA and includes certain registration, connection and metering costs.
For Gauteng households that have installed solar but remain connected to the electricity network, the key requirement is registration with the relevant electricity supplier. This applies even where a household does not send excess solar electricity back into the grid.
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Eskom solar fee waiver ends on 30 September
Eskom extended its fee waiver from 31 March to 30 September 2026, giving qualifying customers additional time to register their solar installations without paying certain associated charges.
According to the utility, the concession applies to eligible SSEG installations of up to 50kVA and covers registration and connection related costs, including metering within specified limits.
Eskom’s standard fee documentation states that the concession running from 1 April to 30 September includes the connection fee, quotation fee and metering for qualifying installations.
The 30 September date is therefore important for customers who want to benefit from the current financial concession. It is not a deadline requiring South Africans to stop using rooftop solar systems after that date.
Who needs to register a rooftop solar system?
Eskom says SSEG systems below 100kVA that are connected to an electricity network must be registered with the electricity supplier responsible for the property.
Depending on where a Gauteng household is located, that supplier may be Eskom or a municipality.
This means installing solar panels does not automatically remove a household’s obligations to its electricity supplier if the property remains connected to the grid.
Importantly, registration is not limited to customers who export surplus electricity.
According to Eskom, households and small businesses with systems below 100kVA must register grid-connected installations even when the system has been configured not to export electricity.
Why Eskom Requires Solar Systems To Be Registered
The registration requirement is linked to the safe operation of the electricity network.
Eskom says customer owned generation equipment connected to the grid can potentially feed electricity into power lines. If an installation has not been correctly connected, this can create risks for electricity workers and equipment.
Improper connections can also affect voltage and power quality on the network.
Registering an installation allows the electricity supplier to identify generation systems connected to its infrastructure and check whether they meet the applicable requirements.
This has become increasingly relevant as households and businesses have installed alternative energy systems to supplement their electricity supply.
Three Documents Solar Owners May Need
Eskom has simplified the registration process after customers raised concerns about the cost and complexity involved in complying with the requirements.
According to the utility, customers need three main documents when registering an eligible system:
- A valid Certificate of Compliance
- An NRS097 2 1 inverter type test certificate
- A basic Embedded Generation Installation test report
The Embedded Generation Installation test report can be signed by a person registered with the Department of Employment and Labour, including an Installation Electrician or Master Installation Electrician, subject to Eskom’s requirements.
Solar owners who are uncertain about their documentation should check whether the installer provided the necessary certificates when the system was commissioned.
What About Homes That Do Not Export Solar Power?
One point that may cause confusion is whether registration is required when a solar installation does not send electricity back to the network.
Eskom’s guidance says it is.
The determining factor is whether the generation system is connected to the electricity network, rather than whether the household exports electricity.
A grid connected system below 100kVA therefore still needs to be registered with the relevant electricity supplier, even when it operates as a non exporting installation.
Fully Off Grid Homes are Treated Differently
Different requirements apply to properties that operate completely independently from Eskom’s electricity network.
According to Eskom, customers who are fully off grid and are not connected to its network do not have to register the system in the same way as grid connected customers.
However, Eskom says these customers must declare the installation and provide evidence showing that it operates independently from the utility’s supply.
Homeowners should therefore establish whether their property is genuinely off grid rather than assuming that having batteries and solar panels makes it an off grid installation.
Gauteng Municipal Customers Should Check Local Requirements
The Eskom waiver applies to qualifying Eskom customers, but many Gauteng residents receive electricity directly from municipalities.
Customers supplied by a municipality should check the solar registration requirements of their local electricity provider rather than assuming that Eskom’s registration process applies to their property.
This distinction is particularly important in Gauteng, where electricity supply arrangements differ depending on the municipality and area.
Residents should first check their electricity account to establish which authority supplies the property and then follow that supplier’s SSEG registration requirements.
What This Means for Gauteng Residents
Gauteng residents who already have rooftop solar should check two things before taking further action: who supplies their electricity and whether their solar installation has been registered.
Eskom supplied customers with qualifying installations of up to 50kVA have until 30 September 2026 to make use of the current waiver on specified registration and connection related charges.
Residents supplied by municipalities should contact or consult their municipality for the applicable registration process and charges.
Homeowners should also keep their solar installation documentation available, particularly the Certificate of Compliance, inverter certification and required installation test report.
The approaching deadline matters primarily because the current Eskom financial concession is ending. It does not mean registered solar systems must be disconnected after September.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Eskom solar registration fee waiver deadline?
The current Eskom concession runs until 30 September 2026 for eligible SSEG installations of up to 50kVA.
Do I need to register solar if I do not feed electricity into the grid?
Yes, according to Eskom. Systems below 100kVA that remain connected to the electricity network must be registered even if they do not export electricity.
What documents are required for Eskom solar registration?
Eskom says customers need a valid Certificate of Compliance, an NRS097 2 1 inverter type test certificate and a basic Embedded Generation Installation test report.
Do completely off grid solar systems need to be registered?
Eskom says customers whose properties are genuinely off grid and not connected to its network do not have to register in the same way. They must, however, declare the installation and provide proof that it operates independently.
Does the 30 September deadline apply to municipal electricity customers?
The deadline relates to Eskom’s current fee waiver for eligible Eskom customers. Residents supplied by a municipality should check the requirements and applicable charges with their municipal electricity provider.
Solar Owners Should Check Their Status Before The Waiver Ends
With 30 September approaching, Gauteng homeowners with rooftop solar have a limited period remaining to determine whether they qualify for Eskom’s current fee concession.
The first step is to establish whether Eskom or a municipality supplies the property. Eskom customers should then confirm whether their grid connected solar installation is registered and whether the required documentation is in place.
The deadline does not prohibit rooftop solar after September. Instead, it marks the end of Eskom’s current waiver of specified registration, connection and metering related charges for qualifying systems.
