Eskom Extends Solar Registration Fee Waiver for Eligible Customers
Eskom has extended its waiver of registration-related charges for eligible customer-owned generation systems of up to 50 kVA, giving qualifying customers additional time to register grid-connected solar installations without paying the applicable Eskom registration charges.
The waiver, which had been due to end on 30 September 2026, will now remain in place until further notice.
The extension applies to eligible systems connected directly to Eskom’s distribution network.
Importantly, the waiver relates to the registration charges and does not remove the underlying registration requirements that apply to qualifying grid-connected installations.
Why solar registration is important
As rooftop solar adoption continues to grow in South Africa, increasing numbers of homes and businesses are generating their own electricity.
Registering grid-connected generation helps electricity distributors understand what generation equipment is connected to their networks and enables these systems to be integrated safely.
It also assists with network planning, protection and the future development of systems such as bidirectional smart metering and appropriate electricity tariffs.
Eskom says registration of customer-owned generation is consistent with practices used in electricity markets internationally.
Who does the waiver apply to?
The current waiver applies to eligible customer-owned generation systems of up to 50 kVA that are connected directly to Eskom’s distribution network.
Customers supplied by municipalities are not covered by Eskom’s waiver and must instead comply with the requirements of their relevant licensed municipal electricity distributor.
Consumers should therefore establish whether they receive electricity directly from Eskom or from their municipality before determining which registration process applies.
NERSA has separately clarified that grid-connected small-scale embedded generation facilities of 100 kW or less are required to register with their relevant distributor, while grid-connected facilities above 100 kW must register directly with NERSA. Off-grid systems without a point of connection to the electricity grid are exempt from these registration requirements. SAnews
For consumers considering solar PV, it remains important to use suitably qualified professionals and ensure that installations comply with applicable technical, electrical and regulatory requirements.
The continued development of clear and accessible registration processes will be important as South Africa integrates increasing amounts of customer-owned renewable generation into the electricity system. Eskom
Source: Eskom – Grid-tied solar registration fee waiver announcement