Eskom threatens South Africans with solar panels on their roofs

Eskom and certain municipalities have threatened to fine or disconnect the electricity supply to homes that have not registered their solar systems with the utility. 

This has been coupled with amendments to earlier requirements and deadlines set out by Eskom and other authorities, resulting in elevated uncertainty and ambiguity. 

Despite these efforts from Eskom, the utility currently does not have the legal authority to push households to register their behind-the-meter systems. 

Energy expert and managing director at EE Business Intelligence, Chris Yelland, said the registration process is necessary, but it should not be overseen by Eskom. 

Eskom has been trying to get households to register their solar systems with the utility so that it can ensure that all connections comply with the required codes, standards, and guidelines set by Nersa. 

It also previously explained that with more household solar systems contributing energy to the grid, Eskom has to act to maintain its stability and safety. 

Throughout 2025, Eskom ramped up efforts to get households to register their solar systems, imposing deadlines for registration that, if not met, could result in significant fines and even disconnection. 

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) claimed these threats from Eskom and certain municipalities are impractical, irrational, and unfair. 

“OUTA has received a surge of queries and concerns from the public following threatening communications from Eskom and certain municipalities, including the City of Johannesburg,” the organisation said in a statement.

These communications included demands for registration and prior approval for installations under 100 kW, including those which do not feed electricity back into the grid.

This, OUTA said, has created unnecessary uncertainty, confusion, and anxiety for households, installation companies, and other stakeholders. 

“What is at stake here are the rights of citizens who have gone to significant personal expense to protect themselves against years of escalating electricity prices and an unreliable power supply,” OUTA CEO Wayne Duvenage said. 

“People have installed gas appliances, solar power systems, generators, inverters, and other alternatives, in direct response to Eskom and Government’s calls – as well as incentives – to reduce electricity demand.”

OUTA said that what a homeowner does behind the meter on their own property is of no real business to Eskom and municipalities, provided the installation is safe and compliant with national legislation. 

“This means that if your solar installation has a valid certificate of compliance, which addresses the safety concerns that are often cited by Eskom and municipalities, you are doing what is required of you,” Duvenage said. 

Eskom lacks authority

Despite Eskom’s efforts to force households to register their solar systems, the utility appears not to have any authority to do so. 

OUTA said it believes that the intimidating letter sent to households is a coercive tactic designed to create fear and panic. 

This is intended to force households to comply with requirements that current legislation does not mandate them to follow.

OUTA explained that a recent shift in Eskom’s behaviour indicates that the utility knows this too and is now scaling back its efforts to force households to register. 

“We have, however, noticed a toning down of Eskom’s stance of disconnections and fines, reflected in recent media reports over the past few days,” OUTA said. 

“This suggests more uncertainty and a realisation that Eskom and municipal plans in this regard are not in sync with the powers presumably attributed to them.”

Eskom’s campaign has faced some backlash and has not resulted in high compliance, with only around 10% of households and small businesses having registered.

Much of the backlash stems from the costs associated with registering a solar installation, with some estimates placing the costs as high as R20,000 to R50,000.

Yelland said Eskom’s reasoning and the legality of its process concerns him, as this is not the utility’s role.

“This is not a question of safety, because Eskom is not the safety regulator behind the meter on the customer’s premises,” Yelland explained.

“That is the role of the Department of Labour through the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Electrical Installation Regulations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, which do require that you have a safe installation behind the meter.”

Yelland explained that it is true that solar users need a certificate of compliance for their household electrical system.

Eskom previously cited the Electricity Regulation Act’s requirements for its solar registration push. However, Yelland explained that this legislation specifically excludes residential households.

“Therefore, any suggestion by Eskom that what it is doing is in compliance with the Electricity Regulation Act is simply not correct because the Act does not cover residential installations,” he said.

Yelland also pushed back against Eskom’s claims that its campaign is due to safety concerns, claiming that the real reason for the drive is revenue.

He explained that Eskom’s push for registering solar systems comes as alternative energy is denting the utility’s revenue streams.