Eskom Extends Rooftop Solar Registration Deadline To September 30 Amid Legal Disconnection Dispute

South African power utility Eskom has eased its approach to rooftop solar registration after facing growing pressure from civil society groups and energy-sector advocates. The utility has extended the registration deadline for residential solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery storage systems to September 30, 2026.

The decision follows Eskom’s acknowledgement that most residential solar installations connected to its low-voltage network remain unregistered. Earlier, the utility had warned that customers who failed to register their systems could face financial penalties or disconnection. Eskom has now withdrawn those threats as part of the revised approach.

Another significant change is the removal of the requirement for residential solar systems to be signed off by a professional engineer. Eskom will instead accept a valid Certificate of Compliance issued by a qualified electrician certified under the Department of Employment and Labour.

However, the changes have not resolved the dispute over Eskom’s authority to disconnect rooftop solar installations. Eskom continues to maintain that it can disconnect systems it considers unsafe. Energy experts and the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) have challenged this position, arguing that a valid Certificate of Compliance provides legal confirmation that an electrical installation meets national safety requirements.

Advocates contend that Eskom should not disconnect a certified installation unless it can establish that the Certificate of Compliance is invalid through appropriate legal proceedings.

There are also questions surrounding the legal basis for mandatory registration. Legal analysts argue that systems installed behind a customer’s electricity meter may not qualify as an official Point of Connection. They maintain that residential installations below 100 kilowatts could therefore fall outside certain regulatory requirements.

Eskom has cited concerns including grid safety, electricity back-feeding and quality-of-supply risks as reasons for registration. However, critics argue that these issues are already addressed through electrical safety certification and established utility procedures.

Eskom’s transmission operations also have access to broader data on rooftop solar generation, raising questions about the need for comprehensive customer-level registration for national grid planning.

For homeowners with non-exporting rooftop solar systems and valid Certificates of Compliance, the latest developments provide greater legal confidence. Nevertheless, the September 30 deadline remains in place, while further negotiations and possible legal challenges could shape Eskom’s rooftop solar registration framework.