Eskom outlines process for registering SSEG systems

[RaptorSA]

"In an apparent response to complaints from blindsided consumers about the costs of registration, Eskom said the average household with solar power backup installed will save over R9,000 between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026."

Un-f**ing-believable.

 

[Blackhand]

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.

Yeah, I went round and round with this last year. See, you are applying something in very rare supply when in comes to the state, common sense.

You have to register your solar setup, and they wont let you register your setup if you have unapproved inverters. I have two perfectly good inverters that are gathering dust because I had to replace them with approved ones.

If it’s not on the list, they won’t sign off if it’s “connected to grid” (your DB), even if the inverters cannot feed back.

 

[Lupus]

Yeah, I went round and round with this last year. See, you are applying something in very rare supply when in comes to the state, common sense.

You have to register your solar setup, and they wont let you register your setup if you have unapproved inverters. I have two perfectly good inverters that are gathering dust because I had to replace them with approved ones.

If it’s not on the list, they won’t sign off if it’s “connected to grid” (your DB), even if the inverters cannot feed back.

Well then, no application from my side

 

[mdesmore1990]

Yeah, I went round and round with this last year. See, you are applying something in very rare supply when in comes to the state, common sense.

You have to register your solar setup, and they wont let you register your setup if you have unapproved inverters. I have two perfectly good inverters that are gathering dust because I had to replace them with approved ones.

If it’s not on the list, they won’t sign off if it’s “connected to grid” (your DB), even if the inverters cannot feed back.

How does this work in Cape Town, What if i have an inverter that is not connected to the grid, Completely separate to run my Geyser, Pool Pump & Borehole Pump. Is registration still required ?

 

[Blackhand]

How does this work in Cape Town, What if i have an inverter that is not connected to the grid, Completely separate to run my Geyser, Pool Pump & Borehole Pump. Is registration still required ?

If it’s connected to panels, it has to be registered. However, if it is a completely isolated circuit, then they will approve it with off-grid inverters.

 

[PaulNOTsaul]

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.

Something tells me that you have to contact them to disconnect you, dont be entitled to think that they are beholden to you. If you are genuinely sincere call them and ask to be disconnected, you asked for them to provide you with assets to use to have electricity when you dont want to comply to their demands then cancel, they dont know that you want to cancel the people at Eskom cant read your mind. This goes for any service. If I have a month to month with Vodacom and Vodacom does a minor amendment to their T&C's that not in tune with me, then I call them to cancel, I dont just continue using their service, waiting for them to cancel, are they magically supposed to know that you want to cancel?

When mature adults no longer require a service they pick up the phone and call to cancel, you don't complain about the sandwich claiming you don't want to eat it, whilst eating the sandwich at same time.

 

[rh1]

If it’s connected to panels, it has to be registered. However, if it is a completely isolated circuit, then they will approve it with off-grid inverters.

It got nothing do with them as it not connected to their grid.

Do you expect boats and caravans that have solar to register? This is no different, if its not connected to a network, it means they have no say. But because it is an electrical installation it will required a COC. This is law and it is the legal document that proves your installation is safe.

 

[rh1]

Something tells me that you have to contact them to disconnect you, dont be entitled to think that they are beholden to you. If you are genuinely sincere call them and ask to be disconnected, you asked for them to provide you with assets to use to have electricity when you dont want to comply to their demands then cancel, they dont know that you want to cancel the people at Eskom cant read your mind. This goes for any service. If I have a month to month with Vodacom and Vodacom does a minor amendment to their T&C's that not in tune with me, then I call them to cancel, I dont just continue using their service, waiting for them to cancel, are they magically supposed to know that you want to cancel?

When mature adults no longer require a service they pick up the phone and call to cancel, you don't complain about the sandwich claiming you don't want to eat it, whilst eating the sandwich at same time.

Dude I could not even register the Eskom prepaid meter in my name, I simply gave up. What should I tell them? Hey you know the service thats not in my name, yeah I want to cancel.

 

[mdesmore1990]

If it’s connected to panels, it has to be registered. However, if it is a completely isolated circuit, then they will approve it with off-grid inverters.

Yes, I am referring to a completely isolated system, Not touching the Grid at all.
Why does it still require registration ?
Are approved inverters required for off Grid ?

 

[mdesmore1990]

It got nothing do with them as it not connected to their grid.

Do you expect boats and caravans that have solar to register? This is no different, if its not connected to a network, it means they have no say. But because it is an electrical installation it will required a COC. This is law and it is the legal document that proves your installation is safe.

Are you in CPT or is the process the same ?

 

[Heisenborg]

Gonna get right on that

 

[PhireSide]

If it’s connected to panels, it has to be registered. However, if it is a completely isolated circuit, then they will approve it with off-grid inverters.

So what if I have my panels, inverter and battery connected to my house for all but one circuit, then I have one circuit (fed from the grid) that has the sole purpose of charging said battery.

There is then no circuit between the solar system/inverter and the 'grid' side, hence the only thing touching the grid is a battery charger so Eskom's fears are allayed

 

[phoneJunky]

So what if I have my panels, inverter and battery connected to my house for all but one circuit, then I have one circuit (fed from the grid) that has the sole purpose of charging said battery.

There is then no circuit between the solar system/inverter and the 'grid' side, hence the only thing touching the grid is a battery charger so Eskom's fears are allayed

Are you physically going to decouple the battery to charge the battery and connect it again to the inverter each time you want to use solar?

Might work, just check that you won’t need a CoC each time you disconnect and connect the battery.

 

[PhireSide]

Are you physically going to decouple the battery to charge the battery and connect it again to the inverter each time you want to use solar?

Might work, just check that you won’t need a CoC each time you disconnect and connect the battery.

Suppose you could put a smart two pole contactor between Eskom and the charger if you wanted to automate it.

 

[Blackhand]

Not trying to piss anyone off, just passing on the information as I received it last year, keeping in mind it might be wrong or out of date.

So from what I understood, if you have solar panels installed on your property, they need to be registered. If it is an isolated circuit (completely off-grid), the process is simple and the barrier is much lower. As I understand it, it’s just so they know whose panels are and aren’t connected to the grid. Do they enforce this? How do they enforce this? No idea.

Yes, it’s all a giant pain in the a** and I don’t see why a CoC isn’t enough if you don’t want to feed back into the grid.

 

[mdesmore1990]

Thanks, From my view if the system is isolated there’s not much they can do if you got your CoC for both CPT and Eskom customers.

If there was many would be getting fines already or letters to register their systems or get disconnected.

I think they just making noise till they can up the service charge till at least R750-R1000.

I never went solar but got energy saving systems instead. Solar Geyser, New Fridge/Freezer, Gas Stove and Oven and Variable Speed Pump for the pool.

VSP pump used less than 40 units per month running my pool.

Dropped my units down to 250 per month. Would not mind getting a small system just to get rid of Eskom. 10 units per day will be more than enough.

 

[trenton]

Something tells me that you have to contact them to disconnect you, dont be entitled to think that they are beholden to you. If you are genuinely sincere call them and ask to be disconnected, you asked for them to provide you with assets to use to have electricity when you dont want to comply to their demands then cancel, they dont know that you want to cancel the people at Eskom cant read your mind. This goes for any service. If I have a month to month with Vodacom and Vodacom does a minor amendment to their T&C's that not in tune with me, then I call them to cancel, I dont just continue using their service, waiting for them to cancel, are they magically supposed to know that you want to cancel?

When mature adults no longer require a service they pick up the phone and call to cancel, you don't complain about the sandwich claiming you don't want to eat it, whilst eating the sandwich at same time.

My work installed 77kw on the roof and has been fighting nearly 2 years for them to please disconnect them. Their refusal is in the form of an endless ream of red tape, with multiple demands of changes to installations schematics. **** like demanding dashed lines, and formating. Still connected. They do Not want to disconnect. R20k/month and using next to nothing. It's a con.

 

[PaulNOTsaul]

My work installed 77kw on the roof and has been fighting nearly 2 years for them to please disconnect them. Their refusal is in the form of an endless ream of red tape, with multiple demands of changes to installations schematics. **** like demanding dashed lines, and formating. Still connected. They do Not want to disconnect. R20k/month and using next to nothing. It's a con.

I don't expect anything else from Eskom, I personally have a friend who fought them for a few months to disconnect them. I 100% believe that, however, that was not my point chronologically.

My point was did one has to actively submit a request to cancel, what Eskom does after that is another matter. It would nonsensical to expect Eskom to have premonitions magically so on who and which users want to disconnect without notice.

 

[oros]

A way for them to keep you connected and for you to still pay them the corrupt mamparas that doesn't realise we see through their shR&!!!!

 

[wingnut771]

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

Yeah, try explain that to CoCT.