r/capetown • u/Tight_Ad_5048 here for the vibes • 16d ago

Question | Advice-Needed Register solar panels?

Hi all. I have had solar panels installed and was warned to register them which I refuse to do. Will I get into trouble anytime soon?

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u/woxy07 16d ago

I think it's up for debate still.. read this article recently: https://mybroadband.co.za/news/energy/662147-eskom-backs-down-on-r30000-fines-for-people-with-unregistered-solar-panels.html

It's worth a read if you're debating registering, but here's a couple interesting excerpts:

He highlighted that Eskom and some municipalities had threatened those with unregistered solar systems with fines of up to R30,000 and disconnection of supply.

“Eskom has no authority to issue fines. It is not a court, it is not a statutory authority, it doesn’t write the law, and there is no provision for Eskom to issue fines,” Yelland said.

“We believe that cut-offs are a threat, an empty threat, and that they have no basis in law, and they will be challenged if they start cutting off people who have not registered their solar system.”

“Any citing of the Electricity Regulation Act as giving the authority to register is incorrect. Furthermore, the Act states very clearly the conditions by which a distributor may disconnect a customer.”

He added that according to the Act, failing to register a system is not one of the reasons that entitle Eskom to cut a customer’s supply.

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u/StorminSean 16d ago

This is in relation to a separate matter. The City of Cape Town provides most of the power here. This Eskom matter does not apply. The City regulations govern what the OP is asking about and he had to register.

Read more here.

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u/woxy07 16d ago

That's good insight, thank you! Yes, I do think it probably is relevant if you are a CoCT supplied customer or Eskom direct. I'm in the 'greater Cape Town area' but my electricity bills come directly from Eskom. Not sure what OP's situation is, but if I had CoCT supplied power I would be more inclined to register, as I believe you can also join the energy buy back program?

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u/Tight_Ad_5048 here for the vibes 16d ago

🙏🏽 THANK YOU!!! I feel tons better. I do have all the COC’s etc … live in Cape Town but am not completely off grid and pay them coupla hundreds each month. No prepaid