- The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has welcomed Eskom’s decision to simplify the costly and time-consuming registration process for residential solar and battery energy systems — a move the organisation says is long overdue.
Until recently, Eskom required that all small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) systems, including hybrid, standby and back-up solar PV and battery storage systems, be signed off by an engineer registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). OUTA has long criticised this requirement as unnecessarily expensive and bureaucratic for homeowners.
From 1 October 2025, Eskom will allow qualified and accredited electricians registered with the Department of Labour and Employment to sign off residential systems under the existing Certificate of Compliance (CoC) framework, as outlined in the Occupational Health and Safety Act and SANS 10142-1 Wiring Code. The changes apply to Eskom’s direct customers, while municipalities will continue to set their own policies.
While OUTA welcomed the announcement as a “major step forward,” the organisation said more clarity is needed from Eskom — particularly on whether the relaxed requirements will extend beyond residential systems to include low-voltage commercial and agricultural SSEG installations under 100 kW.
OUTA also rejected suggestions that it has downplayed safety concerns related to embedded generation.
“We have always viewed the requirement for a qualified electrical engineer to sign off residential SSEG installations as excessive,” said OUTA CEO Wayne Duvenage. “The existing Certificate of Compliance framework under the Occupational Health and Safety Act adequately addresses safety concerns, and Eskom’s new approach aligns with our long-held position. The SANS 10142-1 standard is the mandatory national code for the safe wiring of low-voltage electrical installations, and safety is already well covered within it.”
Duvenage added that any implication that OUTA disregards safety “is disingenuous.”
The civil society organisation said it has held “constructive engagements” with Eskom management on the SSEG registration and compliance processes, describing the discussions as part of an ongoing, collaborative effort to develop a more efficient energy ecosystem.
“The more we engage effectively with each other, the more these processes evolve for the benefit of electricity customers and the public,” Duvenage said. “Eskom’s willingness to listen reflects a more mature and inclusive approach — a far cry from the hard-headed stance of the past.”
Eskom’s changes come as a temporary moratorium remains in place until 31 March 2026 on certain registration and compliance requirements for new and existing SSEG systems under 100 kW, including solar PV and battery storage.
OUTA said it will continue to advocate for regulatory and compliance processes that are “rational, affordable and practical,” ensuring that renewable energy adoption remains safe, fair and accessible for consumers.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
