Eskom outlines process for registering SSEG systems

[Daniel Puchert]

Important information about Eskom solar crackdown

Eskom has outlined the process that its customers must follow to register their small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) system, which must be completed by 31 March 2026.

The power utility said in a statement that it has launched a campaign to help residential SSEG owners comply with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa's (Nersa) regulations.

 

[rh1]

Not registering.

I respect their rights to protect their infrastructure, and as such, if they believe that qualified electricians cannot certify electrical installations, they are welcome to disconnect my property from their network. I would not want my solar system to damage their infrastructure. For myself and my family, I trust the installers properly installed my system and that it is safe.

Luckily, this is not a cash grab but a safety issue, therefore I am convince that Eskom will do the right thing and disconnect me.

 

[The_MAC]

Here I am, having to jump through hoops, all while half of the country is connecting their home via a pair of stitched cables, held up by sticks and strings..

 

[mypetcow]

April fools.

 

[Benedict A55h0le not]

Here I am, having to jump through hoops, all while half of the country is connecting their home via a pair of stitched cables, held up by sticks and strings..

Free electric for "our" people. The joys of living in an African sh1th0le.

 

[Lupus]

Free electric for "our" people. The joys of living in an African sh1th0le.

I actually do regret it, I won`t do it again. But that was in CPT with no outages besides LS and also some Steenbras dam hydro power for a LS stage less now and then. My consumption is also very low, but now with less LS I will not buy a solar system. Maybe if LS gets very bad for a long time I might buy a pv system again. For now I will just get gas cooking and a solar flat plate for the geyser.

Not going to impact you, you hypocrite

 

[Benedict A55h0le not]

Not going to impact you, you hypocrite

You are old and logic seems to escape your brain cell.

 

[Lupus]

You are old and logic seems to escape your brain cell.

This is funny from a socialist, when you packing up and moving?

 

[Okty]

Why would you even want to to feed back into the Eskom grid?

Seems it's just not worth it:

- you have to buy extra special expensive equipment
- the rate that you get is abysmally low
- you are "on the radar" when you register the system, so now you can defiantly be charged extra by a municipality/Eskom for 'extra value' rates etc.
- the registration process is cumbersome and takes time etc.

 

[Lupus]

Why would you even want to to feed back into the Eskom grid?

Seems it's just not worth it:

- you have to buy extra special expensive equipment
- the rate that you get is abysmally low
- you are "on the radar" when you register the system, so now you can defiantly be charged extra by a municipality/Eskom for 'extra value' rates etc.
- the registration process is cumbersome and takes time etc.

Plus not all inverters actually have that functionality anyway. So having solar doesn't mean you can feed back

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

What is this saying exactly? The wording is confusing.

It sounds like it's saying 1:1 net metering, but also sounds like it's trying not to say that

Those off peak rates are quite attractive though, if you have decent battery storage and balance your load well you could pay quite a bit less.

That Peak price though

 

[rh1]

I will.continue to ignore, when they come knocking at my door, I will get an electrician to disconnect them from my home. That way their network will be protected.

I will just add on batteries and extra panels.

 

[Okty]

Plus not all inverters actually have that functionality anyway. So having solar doesn't mean you can feed back

Yip, that too - throw it in with 'extra expensive equipment'.

I can see maybe with relatively big solar installations, like at mines for instance, where it might be worth it to sell extra generation to Eskom, but for a typcial solar home user in SA, I just don't currently see the value in it.

 

[ISP cash cow]

Seeman said getting an engineer to test and approve an SSEG system is expensive and varies based on location. He said the cost typically ranged from “several thousand to tens of thousands of rand”.

That will be hard pass from me

 

[Lupus]

Yip, that too - throw it in with 'extra expensive equipment'.

I can see maybe with relatively big solar installations, like at mines for instance, where it might be worth it to sell extra generation to Eskom, but for a typcial solar home user in SA, I just don't currently see the value in it.

Yup precisely, makes no sense. Oh my little 4.3kw system is going to what feedback a few kw between 9am to 2pm if it's not cloudy?

 

[Dimpie (JIGSAW)]

However, the power utility skipped over the fact that a sign-off from a qualified electrical engineer is required and can be costly.

A dispute over this requirement has been playing out between Eskom and the applicable professional representative bodies.

The power utility and several municipalities argue that electricians aren’t qualified to approve the DC wiring of grid-tied systems running between the inverter, solar panels, and batteries.

They say electricians are only qualified to issue certificates of compliance (CoCs) for the AC portion between the inverter and the distribution board.

According to their interpretation of the grid codes, only electrical engineers registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa (Ecsa) can approve the DC side.

However, the Electrical Contractors Association disagrees, and national technical advisor Grant Seeman told MyBroadband that the association strongly opposes this interpretation.

According to Seeman, an Installation Electrician is allowed to work on any installation except for specialised hazardous locations.

“Similarly, a Master Installation Electrician (MIE) is permitted to work on any installation, covering AC voltages up to 1,000 volts and DC installations up to 1,500 volts,” he said.

“There is little to no need for electrical engineers [in the SSEG approval process].”

Seeman said getting an engineer to test and approve an SSEG system is expensive and varies based on location. He said the cost typically ranged from “several thousand to tens of thousands of rand”.

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

What is this saying exactly? The wording is confusing.

It sounds like it's saying 1:1 net metering, but also sounds like it's trying not to say that

Those off peak rates are quite attractive though, if you have decent battery storage and balance your load well you could pay quite a bit less.

That Peak price though

View attachment 1808785

Also that Transmission network charges is unclear and doesn't seem to be explained anywhere.

Does that only mean the capacity that you're allotted to feed back? Can you choose what you want it to be?

If that's the case and you feed up to 1kVA then just your base cost per month before any usage is around R370. That's before any fixed costs for installing, engineers, etc.

 

[Blackhand]

Plus not all inverters actually have that functionality anyway. So having solar doesn't mean you can feed back

Last time I checked, the only approved inverters are ones that can feed back, not the cheaper “off-grid” ones that can’t feed back. This might have changed though.

I can’t tell if it’s just a scam to extract their pound of flesh, or a punishment to discourage a critical mass of people from using solar.

They do seem to be trying very hard to make it as prohibitively expensive and arduous as possible.

 

[Flanders]

Every time they can't keep the lights on makes this whole affair more laughable.

The moment they thought they were back in control was the moment they spat in our faces. I can't begin to describe the amount of pure disdain I have for these cretins. Fsck 'em to the moon and back 10 times.

 

[Lupus]

Last time I checked, the only approved inverters are ones that can feed back, not the cheaper “off-grid” ones that can’t feed back. This might have changed though.

I can’t tell if it’s just a scam to extract their pound of flesh, or a punishment to discourage a critical mass of people from using solar.

They do seem to be trying very hard to make it as prohibitively expensive and arduous as possible.

Yeah probably cause the ones that cannot feedback cannot really be registered as a SSEG, cause you literally cannot feedback to the grid, so it won't be an approved inverter to feedback, if it cannot feedback.