Eskom has intensified its push to regulate residential solar installations, requiring all grid connected solar photovoltaic users to register their systems and transition to the Homeflex tariff. The tariff introduces a time of use pricing structure and applies to all customers feeding electricity into the national grid or operating grid connected systems, including those with zero export configurations.
According to Eskom, any unregistered grid connected solar installation is regarded as illegal. Customers must register either directly with Eskom or through their local municipality if they are not supplied by Eskom.
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To encourage compliance, Eskom has temporarily waived registration, connection and smart meter installation fees for residential systems up to 50 kilovolt ampere. The exemption, which runs until 31 March 2026, can save households up to R9,000. Eskom says the incentive is designed to remove financial barriers while improving grid safety and visibility.
Despite the fee relief, many solar households are facing higher electricity bills. The Homeflex tariff introduces higher fixed charges and removes inclining block tariffs that previously offered lower rates for modest consumption. Industry estimates suggest that some solar users could see bill increases of between 50 and 70 percent, depending on usage patterns.
In addition, the cost of compliance can be substantial. Households may need to pay for inspections, certification by a registered electrician and possible infrastructure upgrades. These costs can run into tens of thousands of rand, particularly for older or non compliant installations.
Registered Homeflex customers are, however, eligible to receive credits for surplus electricity exported back to the Eskom grid, creating a potential revenue offset for compliant systems.
As of November 2025, Eskom had registered 1,485 small scale embedded generation connections, most of which are residential solar photovoltaic systems. This figure remains well below estimates of total grid connected solar installations in Eskom supplied areas. Media reports have previously suggested that there could be as many as 30,000 unauthorised systems by 2025.
Registration levels were historically low. Between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2024, only 688 systems were registered. Eskom data shows a notable improvement following process simplification and fee waivers, with a further 815 systems registered between 1 April 2025 and the end of November 2025.
Eskom has stressed that safety is a key driver of the registration campaign. Grid connected solar systems can affect voltage levels, damage equipment and pose risks to utility workers if not correctly configured. Compliance with the Grid Code and the Electricity Regulation Act is therefore mandatory.
To connect legally, customers must submit a certificate of compliance for wiring, an inverter type test certificate and a commissioning test report confirming safe shutdown, protection settings and anti islanding functionality. Eskom notes that a certificate of compliance covers wiring only and does not confirm inverter or grid safety performance.
Residential systems can now be signed off by a Department of Labour registered person, excluding single phase testers. Eskom has also waived the R10,000 urban residential connection charge since March 2023 and includes free smart meter installation as part of the current exemption period.
Eskom has warned that unregistered, unsafe or non compliant systems may be refused connection or disconnected in terms of the law. Customers are urged to register their systems and submit all required documentation before switching on, or to regularise existing installations as soon as possible.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
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