Residents say City Power’s solar approval system makes going off-grid harder
Critics warn revised registration requirements introduce bureaucratic hurdles, increasing expenses and discouraging uptake of renewable energy solutions among households and enterprises seeking independence from unreliable supply.
Residents and small business owners have raised concerns about the City Power’s new solar installation approval system, warning that it could make it harder and more expensive to adopt alternative energy solutions.
Nomfundo Zakwe told the Roodepoort Northsider she installed solar to cope with frequent outages and worries that the new system will discourage others.
“It already takes time and money to install solar. Adding more steps just makes it harder for ordinary people,” she said.
Khanyisani Simelane, who runs a small business, said additional red tape could have unintended consequences.
“We rely on solar to keep operating during power cuts. If the process becomes too complicated, some people might avoid registering altogether,” he said.
These concerns are echoed by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), which has criticised the new system as unnecessarily complex and costly for residents and businesses seeking reliable electricity alternatives.
According to a statement released by Outa, the process introduces avoidable costs, delays and administrative strain at a time when many South Africans are turning to solar energy out of necessity rather than convenience.
Outa CEO Wayne Duvenage said the requirements duplicate existing safeguards. He noted that installations completed by qualified electricians and supported by a valid Certificate of Compliance (CoC) already meet national safety standards. In such cases, further municipal approvals serve little practical purpose and risk slowing the adoption of alternative energy solutions.
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The organisation also questioned the system’s effectiveness, claiming that many previous small-scale embedded generation registration applications submitted to City Power have gone unprocessed. This, Outa argues, raises concerns about the intent and efficiency of the process and contributes to growing frustration among residents.
Inconsistent approaches across municipalities, including the City of Johannesburg and Eskom, are also contributing to confusion. Outa believes the lack of alignment is eroding public trust and slowing progress towards broader energy resilience.
Outa has called on municipalities nationwide, including the City of Cape Town, to simplify their regulatory frameworks and recognise existing compliance certifications. The organisation maintains that reducing administrative barriers while maintaining safety standards is essential to support South Africans increasingly turning to private energy solutions.
