Cape Town – Homeowners who have installed rooftop solar or battery systems linked to the national electricity grid face a 30 September 2026 deadline to get their installations registered, after which applicable registration fees will be reinstated.
According to BusinessTech, the current fee waiver could save homeowners up to R10,000 in urban areas and R36,000 in rural areas.
The deadline applies to residential solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage systems connected behind the meter.
Marius Kemp of Santam advised homeowners to confirm the registration requirements for their solar systems before the deadline, noting that rules may vary between Eskom and local municipalities.
He also warned that proper registration could affect home insurance, as insurers are increasingly requiring detailed information about residential solar installations.
“Not long ago, insuring solar panels required little more than adjusting an asset value on a policy schedule,” the report quoted him as saying.
The waiver
“Today, insurers ask very different questions. Is the system registered? Was it installed according to grid standards? Who signed off on the commissioning? Are protection systems adequate? Can the building structurally support the installation?”
He added: “If and when you install a solar power system in your home, it’s important to inform your insurer at the point that you confirm the purchase before you install,” said Kemp.
Financial Mail reported that Eskom extended the waiver from the original 31 March deadline following pressure from the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) and other stakeholders.
Eskom has also eased some requirements, including dropping the need for sign-off by an engineer registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa. A valid Certificate of Compliance from a suitably qualified electrician or electrical contractor is now accepted.
Eskom had also withdrawn earlier threats to fine or disconnect homeowners simply for failing to register by the deadline, Moneyweb reported.
However, the 30 September deadline remains important because the fee waiver expires after that date.
The issue affects a rapidly growing number of South African households that have turned to solar and battery systems amid years of load shedding and rising electricity costs.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, X and Instagram
Picture: Pexels
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
