coj off-grid process

[denmendez65]

Thanks for all the updates @denmendez65
I'm bookmarking this thread for future reference. I'm lucky enough to be on prepaid but if COJ one day decides to come knocking saying I have to go to postpaid because of my solar I'll be following the same route.

I’m hoping the thread stays small and only relevant to the process of going offgrid. It will help people better than way rather than having to dig through hundreds of pages to find the relevant information.

 

[denmendez65]

Update:

Had gone away for a few days and decided to go and check if the quote was done yet. Unfortunately not but that’s because the person that does it is on leave.

Everything is on the system though so just the quote and invoice left to do. They told me the application doesn’t expire so I can come 2nd week of January to check.

Good news is there is a lady at CP that is very helpful and said rather than going to COJ to check, I can just shoot her an email once a week to check. She helped me quite a bit with getting the stuff into the system after COJ hadn’t sent my papers through to them.

So next Update 2nd week of January give or take.

 

[denmendez65]

Update:

I followed up with CP (via email thankfully) and they said my request has been escalated to "planning for quotation".

 

[wingnut771]

Update:

I followed up with CP (via email thankfully) and they said my request has been escalated to "planning for quotation".

Planning lol. That’s all anc does is make plans.

 

[Icarium]

With the current push to force people with solar installations onto post-paid, this thread is about to become very useful - assuming you ever get a resolution!

 

[wingnut771]

Is it not possible to make eye contact with the "planning quotes" department? Why all the emails?

 

[Lupus]

With the current push to force people with solar installations onto post-paid, this thread is about to become very useful - assuming you ever get a resolution!

Dear Residents,

*STATEMENT BY CLLR NICOLENE JONKER – WARD 88*

I have formally sought clarity on City Power’s recent actions to convert prepaid electricity meters, including those used by solar-equipped households, to post-paid billing.

At present, there is *no evidence of a City of Johannesburg Council resolution* authorising this shift. Council has not debated, approved, or adopted any policy that mandates the blanket conversion of prepaid customers to post-paid accounts, nor has it adopted any policy specifically targeting solar users.

That absence matters, and it raises serious legal concerns.

City Power is a municipal entity. Its role is to *implement Council-approved policy*, not to invent new policy on its own. Introducing a change of this magnitude, without Council approval, directly affects household finances, consumer risk, and the fundamental terms under which residents receive electricity.

A forced move from prepaid to post-paid billing:
• fundamentally changes the nature of electricity supply,
• exposes households to billing errors, disputes, and credit control measures,
• and, if imposed without proper notice or consultation, may amount to procedurally unfair administrative action under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA).

Many residents have lawfully invested in solar systems, often in response to ongoing service instability. Where the City has failed to provide a clear, functional, and accessible registration framework, it is neither reasonable nor defensible to penalise those households through sudden billing changes.

Until City Power can produce:
• a valid Council resolution,
• a clear legal basis in law or by-law,
• and proof of fair, lawful, and transparent implementation,

This action remains *legally questionable and open to challenge.*

Residents deserve transparency, lawful governance, and decisions taken through the proper democratic process — not policy introduced by press release or administrative fiat.

I will continue to pursue this matter formally and will keep residents informed as verified information becomes available.

*Cllr Nicolene Jonker*
Ward 88

 

[wingnut771]

Dear Residents,

*STATEMENT BY CLLR NICOLENE JONKER – WARD 88*

I have formally sought clarity on City Power’s recent actions to convert prepaid electricity meters, including those used by solar-equipped households, to post-paid billing.

At present, there is *no evidence of a City of Johannesburg Council resolution* authorising this shift. Council has not debated, approved, or adopted any policy that mandates the blanket conversion of prepaid customers to post-paid accounts, nor has it adopted any policy specifically targeting solar users.

That absence matters, and it raises serious legal concerns.

City Power is a municipal entity. Its role is to *implement Council-approved policy*, not to invent new policy on its own. Introducing a change of this magnitude, without Council approval, directly affects household finances, consumer risk, and the fundamental terms under which residents receive electricity.

A forced move from prepaid to post-paid billing:
• fundamentally changes the nature of electricity supply,
• exposes households to billing errors, disputes, and credit control measures,
• and, if imposed without proper notice or consultation, may amount to procedurally unfair administrative action under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA).

Many residents have lawfully invested in solar systems, often in response to ongoing service instability. Where the City has failed to provide a clear, functional, and accessible registration framework, it is neither reasonable nor defensible to penalise those households through sudden billing changes.

Until City Power can produce:
• a valid Council resolution,
• a clear legal basis in law or by-law,
• and proof of fair, lawful, and transparent implementation,

This action remains *legally questionable and open to challenge.*

Residents deserve transparency, lawful governance, and decisions taken through the proper democratic process — not policy introduced by press release or administrative fiat.

I will continue to pursue this matter formally and will keep residents informed as verified information becomes available.

*Cllr Nicolene Jonker*
Ward 88

Solar tax is like etolls.

 

[denmendez65]

Is it not possible to make eye contact with the "planning quotes" department? Why all the emails?
View attachment 1877614

The time I did the application is the problem. People only came back to work this week so I am sure in the next week or two I will get the quote. Thereafter I just go to COJ, pay and wait for CP to come to remove their stuff. My guess is all will be concluded in March. I say March because when people wanted to convert to prepaid from postpaid it would take almost 3 months for some people. So thats the worst case scenario.

 

[denmendez65]

Dear Residents,

*STATEMENT BY CLLR NICOLENE JONKER – WARD 88*

I have formally sought clarity on City Power’s recent actions to convert prepaid electricity meters, including those used by solar-equipped households, to post-paid billing.

At present, there is *no evidence of a City of Johannesburg Council resolution* authorising this shift. Council has not debated, approved, or adopted any policy that mandates the blanket conversion of prepaid customers to post-paid accounts, nor has it adopted any policy specifically targeting solar users.

That absence matters, and it raises serious legal concerns.

City Power is a municipal entity. Its role is to *implement Council-approved policy*, not to invent new policy on its own. Introducing a change of this magnitude, without Council approval, directly affects household finances, consumer risk, and the fundamental terms under which residents receive electricity.

A forced move from prepaid to post-paid billing:
• fundamentally changes the nature of electricity supply,
• exposes households to billing errors, disputes, and credit control measures,
• and, if imposed without proper notice or consultation, may amount to procedurally unfair administrative action under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA).

Many residents have lawfully invested in solar systems, often in response to ongoing service instability. Where the City has failed to provide a clear, functional, and accessible registration framework, it is neither reasonable nor defensible to penalise those households through sudden billing changes.

Until City Power can produce:
• a valid Council resolution,
• a clear legal basis in law or by-law,
• and proof of fair, lawful, and transparent implementation,

This action remains *legally questionable and open to challenge.*

Residents deserve transparency, lawful governance, and decisions taken through the proper democratic process — not policy introduced by press release or administrative fiat.

I will continue to pursue this matter formally and will keep residents informed as verified information becomes available.

*Cllr Nicolene Jonker*
Ward 88

I see Bobster from Powerforum says that the regulation has passed and does exist for conversion to postpaid for REGISTERED solar systems. So what the councillor is saying only applies to those who arent registered.

Begs the question, how will they deal with the non registered ones. It wont make sense to let the unregistered people stay on prepaid.

 

[Slowestclock]

so TLDR, they can't do anything and just don't register?

 

[Lupus]

I see Bobster from Powerforum says that the regulation has passed and does exist for conversion to postpaid for REGISTERED solar systems. So what the councillor is saying only applies to those who arent registered.

Begs the question, how will they deal with the non registered ones. It wont make sense to let the unregistered people stay on prepaid.

Are we sure Bobster is just not talking out of his rear, as the councilor says that it was not discussed anywhere and it cannot just be passed without discussions and meetings.
For the non-vending units sure, probably for those who registered as well.

 

[wingnut771]

I see Bobster from Powerforum says that the regulation has passed and does exist for conversion to postpaid for REGISTERED solar systems. So what the councillor is saying only applies to those who arent registered.

Begs the question, how will they deal with the non registered ones. It wont make sense to let the unregistered people stay on prepaid.

Same way they dealt with etoll dodgers.

 

[wingnut771]

so TLDR, they can't do anything and just don't register?

Yes.

 

[denmendez65]

Are we sure Bobster is just not talking out of his rear, as the councilor says that it was not discussed anywhere and it cannot just be passed without discussions and meetings.
For the non-vending units sure, probably for those who registered as well.

No idea. He got the letter so I assume he is seeing the information there about why he is being switched to Postpaid. My only thing is, if a CP guy comes during the day when noone is home and in 30 minutes swaps out your meter (like the guy who I met at CP who just saw his bill reflecting the electricity charge), then what do you do?

 

[Lupus]

No idea. He got the letter so I assume he is seeing the information there about why he is being switched to Postpaid. My only thing is, if a CP guy comes during the day when noone is home and in 30 minutes swaps out your meter (like the guy who I met at CP who just saw his bill reflecting the electricity charge), then what do you do?

Oh right, he did register and it did say that

 

[denmendez65]

Update:

Some very excellent news. Got an email from CP to confirm that COJ has done my quote. 1083 rand. So I will head over to COJ probably tomorrow, as my car was complaining about the brake pads being worn. The dealer should be done later today or tomorrow, and then I will head to COJ to make the payment.

 

[denmendez65]

Update. Quote still not in COJs system despite CP having generated it 3 weeks ago.

Region B said they could have escalated me but I belong to region C. Region C says I belong to B. Region B says I must ask for their manager as it clearly says C on my bill.

It’s gettting quite a bit tiring dealing with COJ so I think next week Monday will potentially be my last visit and will raise a bit of hell at region C. I am now leaning towards the second option. I tried the diplomatic route which isn’t going far with these guys as I am beginning to suspect they are deliberately messing me around. So I just won’t pay my COJ bill at all.

They cut electricity and they wait for one to pay the reconnection fee which I won’t pay. I pay the bill received excluding the fine. Or just pay half the fine in case it accrues interest.

3rd option. I leave myself connected and accept it as is. The wife got a job in Dubai and is basically saving in a month what she could save in a year here in SA. I am getting my visa done next week which allows me to stay there as a resident. Being an engineer I can get a pay that side which allows me to also save in a month what would have taken me a whole year to do.

Cars are considerably cheaper there, cost of living in terms of groceries is the same based on the time she has spent there. Accomodation is paid for by her company. I just ditch this country and we make do overseas not having to deal with South Africa and we sell the house despite only having owned it for a year and a bit.

Either way I am leaving South Africa so will see if it’s worth the effort now to continue the disconnection process. It’s simple, COJs incompetence makes it difficult with their system not working half the time.

 

[purrr]

Update. Quote still not in COJs system despite CP having generated it 3 weeks ago.

Region B said they could have escalated me but I belong to region C. Region C says I belong to B. Region B says I must ask for their manager as it clearly says C on my bill.

It’s gettting quite a bit tiring dealing with COJ so I think next week Monday will potentially be my last visit and will raise a bit of hell at region C. I am now leaning towards the second option. I tried the diplomatic route which isn’t going far with these guys as I am beginning to suspect they are deliberately messing me around. So I just won’t pay my COJ bill at all.

They cut electricity and they wait for one to pay the reconnection fee which I won’t pay. I pay the bill received excluding the fine. Or just pay half the fine in case it accrues interest.

3rd option. I leave myself connected and accept it as is. The wife got a job in Dubai and is basically saving in a month what she could save in a year here in SA. I am getting my visa done next week which allows me to stay there as a resident. Being an engineer I can get a pay that side which allows me to also save in a month what would have taken me a whole year to do.

Cars are considerably cheaper there, cost of living in terms of groceries is the same based on the time she has spent there. Accomodation is paid for by her company. I just ditch this country and we make do overseas not having to deal with South Africa and we sell the house despite only having owned it for a year and a bit.

Either way I am leaving South Africa so will see if it’s worth the effort now to continue the disconnection process. It’s simple, COJs incompetence makes it difficult with their system not working half the time.

Will be easier to sell the house with an electrical connection.

 

[GMAN03]

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