Why All Solar Owners Must Now Comply With National Regulations
As solar energy adoption grows across South Africa, new regulations have emerged that place a legal obligation on homeowners, businesses, and farms with solar installations to register their systems as Small Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) plants.
This registration requirement is not optional — it is now a national regulation enforced by NERSA (National Energy Regulator of South Africa), Eskom, and most municipal electricity departments.
What Is an SSEG Registration?
SSEG stands for Small Scale Embedded Generation, and refers to any electricity generation system that is connected to the national grid — such as solar panels that are tied to a home or business’ Eskom or municipal supply.
Registration ensures that the grid operator (Eskom or your municipality) knows:
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What systems are connected to the grid
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How much power is potentially being generated
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Whether backfeeding is occurring (selling electricity back to the grid)
This is crucial for planning grid capacity, avoiding overloads, and ensuring long-term energy security.
What Happens If You Don’t Register?
Failing to register your solar system can result in:
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Penalties or fines from your local utility
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Forced disconnection from the grid
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Loss of eligibility to sell electricity back to the grid
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In extreme cases, your system may be declared non-compliant or even illegal
Both Eskom and municipalities are becoming stricter, and unregistered systems may soon be flagged automatically as solar adoption grows.
Who Needs to Register?
✅ All Eskom direct customers with grid-connected solar
✅ All municipal account holders with rooftop PV systems
✅ Any individual or business generating electricity and connected to the public grid
This includes systems installed years ago — there is no “grandfather clause” or exemption based on age of system.
What Makes the Process So Complex?
SSEG registration is unfortunately not a simple form submission. It involves:
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A range of technical documents
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Single-line wiring diagrams of your system
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An engineer’s commissioning report, signed off by a professional registered with ECSA (Engineering Council of South Africa)
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Meter upgrade requirements (e.g., bi-directional meters)
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Tariff migration (to Eskom’s HomeFlex or RuralFlex, for example)
This is why many solar owners are frustrated. The process is administratively demanding, technically intricate, and varies between municipalities and Eskom regions.
Feed-In Doesn’t Equal Profit
While some clients are excited about the idea of selling power back to the grid, the reality is:
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Feed-in rates are far lower than what you pay for power
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Eskom applies service fees and network charges even if you don’t export
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Some municipalities are not yet able or willing to buy electricity back
So, while technically feasible, “making money” from solar exports is unlikely, and the true benefit of solar remains energy independence and cost control — not grid profits.
Considering Going Off-Grid?
Because of the costs and complexity of SSEG compliance, many solar users are now exploring fully off-grid systems. These do not require registration, and while they require careful design (especially around storage and backup), they offer:
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Full independence from Eskom or your municipality
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No future policy risks or added service fees
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The freedom to manage your energy on your own terms
Final Thought
SSEG registration is now a legal requirement — and failure to comply can result in serious consequences, even for long-standing solar owners. Whether you choose to register or eventually go off-grid, the most important step is to understand your responsibilities and take action.
If you’re unsure of your system’s status, contact your installer or your local electricity supplier for guidance.
Disclaimer: This post is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulations and requirements may differ between municipalities and utility providers.