How to Register Solar in South Africa: SSEG, Eskom and NERSA Rules

Published 2025-11-11 • Updated 2026-10-06 • Solar Energy Laws

Key points

If your solar system has any point of connection to the grid, it must be registered. This applies even if it never exports power.
Systems under 100 kW (almost every home) register with their electricity supplier: Eskom or the local municipality, not NERSA.
Systems of 100 kW or more with a grid connection register directly with NERSA.
A fully off-grid system with no grid connection does not need registration, but it still needs a Certificate of Compliance.
Apply before you connect. Your installer or electrician usually prepares and submits the paperwork.

Last reviewed: October 2026 by Maarten Kronberger. Sources are listed at the end of this guide.

Does my solar system need to be registered?

In February 2026 NERSA clarified a question that had caused a lot of confusion. Whether you must register depends on two things only: whether the system has a point of connection to the grid, and its installed capacity. Whether you export power, or use every unit yourself, makes no difference.

Your system	Register?	With whom
Grid-tied (no battery), under 100 kW	Yes	Eskom or your municipality
Hybrid with battery, wired into a grid-supplied board, under 100 kW	Yes, even if set never to export	Eskom or your municipality
Any grid-connected system of 100 kW or more	Yes	NERSA
Fully off-grid, no connection to the grid at all	No	Not applicable (a CoC is still required)

The term you will see on forms is small-scale embedded generation (SSEG): generation equipment, such as solar panels and an inverter, installed at a property that is connected to the electricity network.

Who do I register with?

You register with whoever supplies your electricity and sends your bill. If you buy electricity from your municipality, register with the municipality's electricity department. If Eskom supplies you directly, register with Eskom. NERSA only handles registration directly for systems of 100 kW or more.

How the registration process works

Every municipality runs its own process and forms, but the steps are broadly the same:

Check your supplier's requirements first. Look up its SSEG application page or call its electricity department before you buy equipment.
Choose an approved inverter. Grid-connected inverters generally have to be on your supplier's approved list, based on the NRS 097-2-1 specification.
Prepare the documents. Typically an application form, a single-line diagram of the system, the inverter's compliance certificate and the details of the installer and electrician.
Submit the application before connecting. Some suppliers issue a permission-to-install letter before the work starts.
Install, test and certify. A registered electrical contractor issues the Certificate of Compliance (CoC) once the work is done.
Commissioning and approval. Submit the commissioning documents and CoC. If you want to export power for credit, your meter may need to be changed.

Your installer or electrician usually prepares and submits the application on your behalf. Make sure the quote says so, and ask for copies of everything that is submitted.

Eskom customers

In October 2025 Eskom announced a simpler process for residential customers. Systems no longer need an engineer's sign-off, only sign-off by professionals registered with the Department of Employment and Labour. Eskom also waived registration and connection fees for households with systems up to 50 kVA until March 2026. Check Eskom's current fees and process before applying, as these concessions were time-limited.

City of Cape Town customers

The City of Cape Town requires all SSEG applications to be made online through the Energy Services platform on its e-Services portal, where both the property owner and the installer can follow the application's progress. The City states that registration and authorisation are free. It also states that unauthorised systems must be authorised or decommissioned, and that a service fee is charged.

Other municipalities

Processes, forms and turnaround times vary widely between municipalities, and they change. Rather than rely on comparison tables online, check your own municipality's electricity department for the current requirements. Ask specifically which documents it needs, whether it issues a permission-to-install letter, and whether you need a meter change to export.

What if my system is already installed but not registered?

Register it now. Many systems were installed in a hurry during load-shedding without registration. Suppliers can require unauthorised systems to be authorised or removed, and an unregistered, uncertified installation can complicate an insurance claim or a property sale. Start by getting a registered electrical contractor to inspect the installation and issue a CoC, then apply to your supplier.

Off-grid systems

A system with no point of connection to the grid is exempt from registration. The electrical work must still comply with SANS 10142-1 and be certified with a CoC. If you add a grid connection later, even as a backup supply into the same distribution board, the system then needs to be registered. Read more about legal compliance for off-grid solar.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to register with NERSA for home solar?

Almost certainly not directly. Home systems are under 100 kW, so they register with Eskom or the municipality that supplies the property. Only grid-connected systems of 100 kW or more register directly with NERSA.

Do I need to register if I don't export power?

Yes, if the system has any point of connection to the grid. NERSA's February 2026 clarification confirmed that exporting is not the deciding factor.

Does registration cost anything?

It depends on your supplier. The City of Cape Town says its process is free, and Eskom waived fees for households up to 50 kVA until March 2026. Other municipalities set their own fees, so ask before you apply.