Alert for solar users in Joburg

 ·28 Oct 2024

City of Joburg power utility City Power has moved to clear up confusion around household solar installations in the metro, dismissing claims that it would disconnect users and charge them R30,000 to get them back up.

The utility was responding to social media posts over the weekend, purporting to be from ward councillors, claiming that the City of Joburg would no longer install prepaid meters for solar users in the city.

It was further claimed that the utility would disconnect prepaid users who do not regularly purchase electricity or purchase electricity in large amounts and charge these users R30,000 to be reconnected.

City Power refuted the claims as “misinformation” and lies.

The confused messaging ostensibly stems from the city’s solar and small-scale energy generator (SSEG) policy, which requires household solar users to register with the utility and have the appropriate meter installed to maintain regulatory standards.

Such registrations are not new and have been a mandatory policy in other regions, like the Western Cape, for some time.

However, messaging around this policy has not been clear, with official announcements regarding SSEGs in Joburg only coming through a Twitter post back in November 2023 when the utility said it was investigating feed-in tariffed.

“Register your PV solar system with the Municipality, whether new or existing, to comply with the law,” it said.

City power has now moved to outline the policy with more details:

“As a part of a move towards promoting renewable energy, City Power has streamlined the process for the SSEG application, designed to facilitate the installation of photovoltaic (PV) systems for customers,” the utility said.

“As the implementing agent, we are committed to ensuring that all installations comply with safety and regulatory standards.”

The utility said that customers who wish to install solar need to obtain a notification number from the City of Joburg by completing an electricity supply application form.

Following this, a site inspection will be arranged, and once that is done, the installation will be added to the city’s database.

The application process requires the submission of several key documents, including:

  • A fully completed Electricity Supply Form;
  • A Single Line Diagram;
  • Inverter Datasheet;
  • Inverter NRS Certificate;
  • Design/Drawings;
  • Site Plan/Layout;
  • Maintenance Procedure;
  • PV Commissioning Form; and
  • Certificate of Compliance.

In addition to this, for systems exceeding 350kVA, a Grid Impact Study is mandatory and must receive approval from the Planning Evaluation Committee (PEC).

“This ensures that all installations are not only efficient, but also safe for integration into the existing grid,” it said.

The following cost estimate fees are applicable for the study, based on Maximum Export Capacity:

The lowest category would draw a fee of R30,000 plus VAT, which is likely where the R30,000 confusion on reconnection crept into the messaging.

It should be noted that most solar installations for a single household tend to be much smaller than 350kVA.

Once the installation is complete, the system has to undergo testing and commissioning.

Following a successful review, City Power will issue a pre-approval letter, leading to the final approval letter.

“It is essential to note that customers will be notified when City Power is ready to facilitate backfeeding, should they express interest,” it said.

Solar customers must pay

City Power said it would assist customers throughout the application process. However, outside of all the admin and red tape, customers will also find themselves having to pay up in other ways:

Customers will be expected to install the correct meter at their own expense, as well as cover the fee for the Grid Assessment impact study, if needed.

Customers will also be converted to post-paid and charged the relevant service fees.

“To facilitate the measurement of both electricity import and export, a smart/bi-directional meter will be installed at the customer’s expense.

“This means that those seeking to install solar will be converted to post-paid to enable City Power to monitor consumption and ensure that they contribute towards network service fees like all other customers,” it said.

City Power said that compliance with its bylaws is mandatory to ensure the integrity of the grid.

“Each connection must be declared and approved by City Power, and any new amendments will be reviewed in accordance with the SSEG policy,” it said.


Read: Warning for homeowners with rooftop solar in South Africa

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