• Eskom notes its waiving of registration fees for solar installations up to 50kVA will end in 2026.
• Minister Dion George who heads up the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has urged Eskom to reconsider this fee for small solar installations.
• Currently the absence of these fees saves consumers roughly R9 000.

As loadshedding worsened, South African businesses and private citizens turned to alternatives to Eskom in order to keep their lights and electronics running. Recognising that folks who installed renewable energy helped alleviate the strain on Eskom, the utility waived a registration fee to make these installations more affordable.

Putting the absurdity of paying Eskom to register a power supply that it has no control over aside for a moment, this was a good move but it will come to an end in 2026.

“Since March 2023, Eskom has not charged households with solar photovoltaic (PV) installations of up to 50kVA for registration fees, installation and sign off and for the smart meter. In fact, these customers have been exempted from connection charges and tariff conversion fees, which typically cover costs such as quotations, physical connections, and meter installations. These exemptions will remain in place for eligible households until March 2026, including those who have not yet installed PV systems,” Eskom wrote on Tuesday.

The utility notes that this waiver saves customers who install a 16kVA solar power solution roughly R9 000 in registration and connection fees.

Returning to the absurdity of Eskom holding its hand out for payment when a household installs solar power, Minister Dion George who heads up the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has noted Eskom should waive these fees, forever.

“If Eskom is serious about reducing emissions and advancing the just transition to a low-carbon economy, it must eliminate obstacles for households eager to embrace renewables. Permanently waiving registration and associated costs for residential systems up to 50 kVA would unequivocally demonstrate Eskom’s commitment to empowering South Africans to reduce reliance on coal-fired power and support the Minister’s call yesterday for faster renewable energy integration into the grid. We warn Eskom against disincentivizing renewable energy uptake through short-term policies that may undermine public enthusiasm for sustainable solutions at a pivotal moment for climate action, especially as tariffs rise,” the DFFE wrote in a statement.

The department notes that the promised return of these fees will only serve to deter people from installing solar power. Granted, Eskom would likely prefer if South Africans rely solely on it for electricity but that’s not viable, especially when loadshedding can return at any moment.

It also goes against the national push toward renewable energy and away from power stations that use fossil-fuel.

It’s also worth remember that solar installations over 50kVA still attract the fees and registrations Eskom charges. As these installations are generally done by large businesses and enterprises, these fees are more easily absorbed but R9 000 for a household, could be the straw that prevents homeowners from switching to solar.

“We stand ready to collaborate with Eskom, and the private sector to deliver practical, long-term solutions that hasten this energy transition. A sustainable future is within reach, but it demands bold, consistent action—starting with the permanent removal of financial disincentives that hinder residential renewable energy adoption,” said Dion George.

Whether Eskom will heed the minister’s advice is unclear but if you’re looking to invest in a solar power solution for your home, now might be the best time to do so.