NERSA Invites Public Comments On Draft Rules For Small-Scale Electricity Generation Registration In South Africa

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has announced a virtual public hearing to gather feedback on its Draft Rules for the registration of small-scale electricity generation facilities. The proposed rules are aimed at improving the monitoring and management of Small-Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) systems across the country.

Under the draft framework, all electricity distributors, including Eskom, licensed municipalities, and private distributors, will be required to maintain an official register of electricity generation facilities with a capacity of less than 100 kW operating within their distribution networks. The proposed registration system is intended to improve visibility of small-scale generation installations and support better management of the electricity grid.

According to NERSA, maintaining an accurate register of SSEG facilities is essential for ensuring network security and protecting both the public and utility personnel working on electricity infrastructure. It will also contribute to building a reliable national database of installed electricity generation capacity, helping authorities better understand the growth of distributed energy resources.

NERSA, established under the National Energy Regulator Act of 2004, is responsible for regulating South Africa’s electricity, piped-gas, and petroleum pipeline industries. The regulator is inviting electricity distributors, industry participants, consumers, and other interested stakeholders to participate in the consultation process before the rules are finalized.

The virtual public hearing will take place on Friday, 14 August 2026, beginning at 11:30. The event will be conducted through Microsoft Teams and will also be livestreamed on X, formerly known as Twitter, allowing broader public participation.

Stakeholders who wish to attend or make presentations during the hearing must register with NERSA by 16:30 on Friday, 7 August 2026. Those unable to participate in the live session can instead submit written comments via email before the same deadline.

NERSA has stated that the hearing will only proceed if interested parties register to present their views. If no registrations are received, the hearing will be cancelled, and a notice will be published on the regulator’s official website. The draft rules and consultation paper have already been made available online for public review.