Eskom is urging homeowners and small businesses with privately installed solar photovoltaic (PV) systems to register them before a March 31, 2026 deadline, while continuing to waive registration fees of up to R10,000 and providing a free smart meter for qualifying systems.
The state-owned utility launched a campaign in April 2025 to encourage compliance with regulations set by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), which require all owners of Small-Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) systems in Eskom-supplied areas to register their installations. Owners in areas supplied by municipalities are required to register with their local authorities.
Currently, Eskom does not charge registration fees or the cost of a bi-directional smart meter for households with PV installations up to 50kVA. This exemption, initially implemented in March 2023, extends to tariff conversion fees, typically covering costs such as quotations, physical connections, and meter installations. The waiver applies to systems up to 50 kilovolt amperes, and is intended to support the increasing adoption of private solar power generation.
Eskom has simplified the compliance process, effective October 1, 2025, allowing residential customers to have their systems signed off by individuals registered with the Department of Employment and Labour, excluding single phase testers. Previously, sign-off required a registered professional with the Engineering Council of South Africa.
The move comes as more South Africans turn to solar energy to mitigate the impact of electricity bills and frequent power outages. SSEG systems allow property owners to generate their own electricity, and potentially feed excess power back into the grid. Eskom’s regulations are designed to ensure the safety and stability of the national grid as distributed power sources increase.
According to Eskom, the uptake of registration has been slow. The utility reaffirmed its commitment to supporting legal and safe solar adoption by extending the financial and regulatory relief for customers with SSEG systems on January 14, 2026.
Once registered, customers will be converted to the Homeflex tariff, allowing them to benefit from credits for energy exported to the grid. Both SSEG and non-SSEG residential customers will pay the same fixed charges.
