Solar PV registration legal compliance campaign update – act now, stay legal, stay safe – Eskom continues to provide up to R10,000 assistance

Wednesday, 14 January 2026: Eskom is continuing to make it easier and cheaper for residential and business customers with solar PV or other Small Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) systems to meet the legal requirement to register them with the electricity service provider.

Under Schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act, all systems under 100 kilovolt-amperes (kVA)must be registered with the network service provider (Eskom or municipalities) and comply with grid code requirements.

The vast majority of residential systems are under 50kVA. All registration and connection fees of up to R10,000, including a free smart meter, are waived until 31 March 2026 for Eskom household customer solar systems up to 50kVA.

Compliance simplified

Since 1 October 2025, Eskom has simplified solar system compliance after working with industry stakeholders. Eskom’s residential customers may now have their systems signed off by a Department of Employment and Labour (DoEL) registered person (excluding single-phase testers).  An Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) registered professional is no longer mandatory. This follows a review of compliance and safety requirements as well as a stringent due diligence process, pending the expected changes by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) of wiring standards.

Registration of an SSEG system is commonplace worldwide and helps ensure a home or business is safe, technicians are protected when working on the network and the community electricity supply remains reliable.

Eskom is working with key national organisations, including South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), Department of Employment and Labour (DoEL), Association of Municipal Electricity Utilities – Southern Africa (AMEU), South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA), Electrical Conformance Board (ECB), and Electrical Contractors Association of South Africa (ECA), to simplify and harmonise SSEG rules across the country.

Key customer benefits at a glance

  • No registration or connection fees until 31 March 2026 for systems up to 50kVA.
  • Simpler compliance: Only a valid Certification of Compliance (CoC), an inverter test certificate (NRS097), and a basic SSEG installation test report are needed.
  • Since 1 October 2025, SSEG systems may be signed off by a DoEL registered person, making the process faster and more affordable (ECSA professional not mandatory).

Who needs to register?

  • SSEG systems above 100 kVA, that are typically large businesses, are legally required to be registered directly with NERSA.
  • SSEG systems below 100 kVA, covering households and small businesses, must be registered with Eskom or the local electricity provider with Eskom providing R10,000 support for customers with systems under 50kVA.
  • Fully off grid systems do not need to register if they operate independently from Eskom’s supply.

Documents customers need to submit

  • CoC for electrical wiring.
  • NRS097-2-1 inverter type test certificate.
  • SSEG commissioning test report (12-month grace period allowed after registration). 

Quick Registration

For more information

Eskom remains committed to safe, affordable and legally compliant solar PV integration for all customers.

ENDS

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