Fourways resident and small business owner, Dave Glass, says registering his rooftop solar system was not just about ticking boxes, it was a matter of safety and doing what’s right.

After struggling for months to register his solar panels, Glass finally got assistance during a meeting with various entities, including Eskom, to address service delivery issues, organised by councillor Vino Reddy in Sunninghill on July 8.

“I registered because it’s the right thing to do. I did my research and discovered that when you have a solar setup that’s tied to the grid, it can endanger Eskom staff if it’s not properly registered. They could get electrocuted during maintenance. That hit me.”

Read more: Eskom aims to register all solar users in SA

Glass installed solar panels a few years ago to keep his business afloat amid worsening load-shedding. “Load-shedding was devastating. I couldn’t afford to lose customers or shut down during power cuts, so I invested in solar.”

However, what he didn’t anticipate was the red tape involved in transitioning from a prepaid electricity setup back to post-paid, a requirement for solar registration.

“That was my stumbling block. I had no idea the switch to prepaid would complicate the process. I’m just grateful I finally got help during the meeting. Now I want other residents to register too because it’s safer for everyone.”

Glass’s experience reflects the broader push by Eskom to identify and register households that have installed rooftop solar power systems.

The power utility said it is intensifying its efforts through its Small-Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) programme to ensure that all solar users are compliant with national regulations.

Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena told Fourways Review that the utility is employing various methods, including data analytics and public campaigns, to track down unregistered systems.

“We are using different approaches to ensure we reach all SSEG customers. The aim isn’t just enforcement, we want to encourage voluntary compliance.”

Under Eskom’s incentive campaign, which runs until March 2026, urban residential customers can benefit from waived registration-related fees for supplies up to 50kVA, a saving of R9 132. The incentive also includes a free smart meter.

To further ease the process, Eskom is offering a 12-month grace period for those who register before the deadline. “During this grace period, no penalties will be imposed on non-compliant, grid-tied customers. We hope this will encourage more people to come forward.”

After March 2026, however, full registration costs will apply, and non-compliant users may face fines or even disconnection from the grid. Residents who haven’t yet registered can visit the Eskom (SSEG) website to do so.

Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We’d love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts!