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Self-build option for an electricity connection |
Business customers are, subject to certain conditions, offered the
option to choose either Eskom or another Eskom-approved supplier to build an
electricity connection.
The self-build
option allows you to control the timing of your connection and, to a greater
extent, the cost of your connection.
The following conditions apply:
-
The contractor that you appoint must be Eskom-accredited to ensure that the correct equipment is used and the quality of work adheres to Eskom’s standards and specifications.
- No work is allowed on upstream assets, such as inside an Eskom substation.
- You need to sign a self-build agreement in addition to the electricity
supply agreement.
All self-build project applications will
be considered irrespective of the size of supply requested
Self-build project testimonials
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Apply for a self-build project at the time when you apply for your electricity connection |
Follow
this checklist to ensure that you provide Eskom with the necessary information
and the required documentation to expedite and process your self-build electricity connection application.
If you apply for a smaller project Eskom will give you a budget quotation.
If you apply for a larger project Eskom will give you an initial cost estimate letter, after which you need to indicate whether you want a budget
quotation and pay the relevant quotation fee. Eskom will give you a budget
quotation if you request this.
Click here to download an application form
(Internet Explorer users: Right-click and the selecet "Save Target as" to download the document in "Word" format ")
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Follow these steps to complete your application |
Step 1
The document details your and Eskom’s responsibilities – from application to
completion - in regard to undertaking a self-build electricity connection
project. Hereby a concise summary of each:
Your responsibilities:
-
Selecting the site and route of the project in consultation with Eskom.
- Obtaining land rights, inclusive of statutory approvals; permits and required licences.
- Doing an environmental impact study and obtaining project authorisation from the Department of Environmental Affairs.
- Doing a final design and risk assessment of the project.
- Appointing Construction and Control Plant Contractors in conjunction with Eskom.
- Managing all appointed stakeholders.
- Constructing the electricity connection and completing the project in line with Eskom standards and specifications.
- Handing over the connection to Eskom to manage and
maintain.
Eskom’s responsibilities:
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Accepting the site and route selection of the project.
- Outlining standards and specifications relating to sites, routes, wayleaves and/or servitudes.
- Verifying whether the final project design complies with Eskom standards and specifications.
- Doing all work on existing assets and associated system reinforcements.
- Doing all work on all assets that cannot be safely and efficiently separated from existing live, in-service systems.
- Doing quality control and monitoring construction work in line with Eskom standards and specifications.
- Doing site inspection after construction of the electricity has been completed.
- Taking ownership of the connection to manage and maintain it up to the point
of the customer’s meter.
Step 2
- Eskom’s equipment specifications.
- Eskom’s standardised designs and drawings.
- Eskom’s electrification standards.
- Eskom’s Buyers Guide.
- Eskom’s List of Accepted Products (LAP).
This website is secure and requires you to
have a valid username and password. Access to https://scot.eskom.co.za can be obtained by completing the New User Form and paying the annual web subscription as listed on the website.
Step 3
Describe and motivate your project. Get a
specialist in your region to help you with this process: Call 08600 37566 and ask Eskom’s Customer
Executive to provide you with a contact list of relevant specialists. Eskom needs to know the following:
Your project’s name.
Background and reasons for building your own electricity connection.
Geographic area.
Route and line length.
MVA (apparent power) required.
MVA (apparent power) ramp-up schedule required.
Voltage required.
Types of conductor¹ to be used.
Substation transformers² and their sizes.
Estimated project cost.
Conceptual level summary of the components of the electricity connection that you will be constructing prior to handing it over to Eskom upon completion.
Preferred connection date.
Step 4
Prepare:
- A Network Planning Report or Business Case Report motivating the need for the electricity connection.
- A complete basic or preliminary design of the infrastructure in line with Eskom’s standard designs, guidelines and specifications.
- A basic project risk assessment report.
- A construction method statement.
Step 5
Gather the
following documentation:
Copy of shareholder/s ID/s.
Company registration number and certificate.
Tax clearance certificate.
A signed letter (on your company letterhead) authorizing a specific individual with a specific designation to contract with Eskom on your behalf.
Step 6
Prepare your application on your company letterhead:
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Address it to the relevant regional manager at Eskom.
- Include and attach all the required documentation and information.
- Submit your application at your closest Eskom Customer Service Centre.
- Be sure to obtain a reference number.
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Eskom follows these steps upon receipt of your application |
Step 1
Assesses the
feasibility of your application.
If you have
applied for a smaller project, Eskom will give you a budget quotation.
If you have
applied for a larger project, Eskom will give you an initial cost estimate
letter, after which you need to indicate whether you wish to receive a budget
quotation and pay the relevant quotation fee.
Step 2
If you requested it, Eskom gives you a budget quotation together with an
electricity supply agreement and a draft self-build agreement.
The quotation will reflect the project’s
scope and cost while the self-build agreement will detail the terms and conditions,
and the standards and specifications that need to be adhered to.
Note: In all cases there will be works
that are Eskom’s sole responsibility and works that you are not allowed to
undertake (or do not wish to build).
Step 3
Eskom authorises the
project once you have accepted the quotation, paid the connection charges,
signed the electricity supply and self-build agreements and returned both to
Eskom.
Step 4
Eskom initiates the work.
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Project commencement and completion steps |
Step 1
You appoint your Eskom-approved service providers, contractor and
suppliers.
Typically, these specialists
must be registered with
the relevant Built Environment Council for their respective professions, such as the South African Council for Project
and Construction Management Professionals to manage the project, and the Engineering Council of South Africa
to do a final design of the
electricity connection in line with Eskom specifications.
- Call 08600 37566 and ask Eskom’s Customer Executive to give you a contact list of relevant specialists who can help you with this process.
Step 2
You submit the final project design - in line with
your contract requirements - to Eskom for approval.
Step 3
You
start building self-build portion of the connection works as soon as Eskom has
approved the final design. Eskom will
also initiate any work to be done on its portion of the connection works.
Step 4
Eskom conducts
quality assessments throughout
the construction of the electricity connection.
Step 5
Eskom inspects and tests the completed construction and, if accepted and
approved, connects it to the national power grid and energises it.
Step 6
Eskom takes over the ownership of the connection to operate and maintain
it.
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1.
A conductor is an object or type of
material that allows the flow of an electrical current in one or more
directions. Materials made of metal are common electric conductors.
2.
A transformer is a static piece of apparatus with two or more
windings which, by electromagnetic induction, transforms a system of
alternating voltage and current into another system of voltage and current for
the purpose of transmitting electrical power.