Eskom Extends Solar Registration Fee Waiver Indefinitely For Systems Up To 50 kVA

Eskom has extended the waiver of registration-related charges for qualifying customer-owned solar installations of up to 50 kVA connected directly to its distribution network. The waiver, which was originally scheduled to end on September 30, 2026, will now remain in effect until further notice.

The decision is intended to give households and small customers additional time to register their grid-connected rooftop solar systems without facing registration-related charges. Eskom said the measure supports the safe and efficient integration of customer-owned generation into the electricity network.

However, the fee waiver does not remove the requirement for qualifying grid-connected generation facilities to be registered. Eskom maintains that registration is important for network planning, voltage management, equipment protection, fault analysis and the safety of workers and contractors.

According to Eskom, embedded generation facilities with a capacity of 100 kW or less that are connected to the electricity grid must be registered with the relevant licensed electricity distributor. This may be Eskom or a municipality, depending on the location of the installation. Generation facilities above 100 kW are required to be registered with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA). Solar systems that have no connection to the electricity grid are not subject to this registration requirement.

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has welcomed Eskom’s decision to extend the fee waiver but continues to question the requirement for compulsory registration of certain residential solar systems. OUTA has argued that compliant behind-the-meter systems that do not export electricity should not necessarily require separate registration when they already have a valid electrical Certificate of Compliance (CoC).

OUTA has also called for greater clarity on the legal basis and practical purpose of registration for non-exporting household systems. The organisation distinguishes between systems used entirely for self-consumption and installations that export surplus electricity to the grid.

For systems that export electricity, OUTA accepts that appropriate approval, connection, metering and tariff requirements are necessary because such installations directly interact with the distribution network.

Eskom, however, has maintained that a Certificate of Compliance and generation registration serve different purposes. While a CoC confirms that an installation meets electrical safety requirements, registration gives the distributor information about the location, technology and capacity of generation facilities connected to its network.

The extension of the waiver therefore provides financial relief to eligible solar customers, while the broader debate over the regulatory treatment of behind-the-meter rooftop solar installations in South Africa remains unresolved.