Eskom recently made an announcement that pertains to all South Africans who invested in some form of solar system for their home during the height of loadshedding only a couple of years ago. Here, the nation’s power utility announced an extension for the registration fee waiver to its Small-Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) policy.
For those unfamiliar, the SSEG is Eskom’s way of better monitoring households that have installed a photovoltaic solar system, and ensuring these systems fall within the power utility’s regulatory framework. It is also designed to make sure that systems installed in SA fall within specific guidelines from a compliance and safety perspective.
To that end, the registration fee waiver for SSEG has been extended to 30th September 2026, which is a move that has been welcomed by the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA).
“This extension, alongside the announcement of a new prepaid metering option for residential solar users, marks a significant step toward making energy independence more accessible for all South Africans,” SAPVIA noted in a release to Hypertext.
Should no further fee waiver occur, after September this year, registering for SSEG, as well as installing a smart meter, could cost upwards of R9 000.
“We applaud Eskom for listening to industry concerns regarding the 31 March deadline. By extending the waiver and introducing a prepaid-friendly path, they are removing the ‘compliance tax’ that has previously deterred many households from registering their systems. However, this is only half of the puzzle. While Eskom is making strides, the inconsistent, often delayed and cumbersome approval processes at a municipal level continue to act as a drag on our national energy transition,” added Sim Khuluse, technical and policy manager at SAPVIA.
Here, the Association is highlighting that SSEG is a necessary regulatory step, and is important for three reasons in particular.
With Eskom seemingly offering customers a clearer, more affordable option to be compliant between now and September, there are expected to be delays for South Africans living in municipal supply areas, according to SAPVIA.
It is therefore calling on municipal distributors to follow in Eskom’s footsteps, and look to streamline their efforts in line with SSEG.
“We need a unified, digital-first approach across all provinces. Inconsistent municipal by-laws create a cumulative backlog that intensifies pressure on the national grid’s technical interface and frustrates the very citizens who are investing their own capital to ensure energy security,” Khuluse concluded.
[Image – Photo by Pramod Tiwari on Unsplash]
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