- SSEG Registration Gauteng explains how small-scale embedded generation systems, meaning solar PV and installed battery backup, are registered in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Centurion and the East Rand.
- Who you register with depends on who sends your electricity bill: City Power, the City of Tshwane, the City of Ekurhuleni, Mogale City or Eskom.
- Most installers handle registration as part of the job. Make sure it is on the quote.
Tell us whether you need a new installation or help registering an existing system.
Get SSEG Registration QuotesThis page summarises published requirements in plain language. Requirements, fees, tariffs and forms change, and each utility runs its own process. Confirm current details with your supplier or a qualified installer before you rely on them.
Who You Register With in Gauteng
| Your bill comes from | Typical areas | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| City Power | Most of Johannesburg, including Randburg, Roodepoort, Northcliff, Melville, Rosebank and parts of Sandton | City Power's SSEG office, citypower.co.za |
| City of Tshwane | Pretoria, Pretoria East and Centurion | Tshwane's electricity department; queries to sseg@tshwane.gov.za |
| City of Ekurhuleni | East Rand, including Boksburg, Benoni, Kempton Park, Germiston, Alberton, Springs, Bedfordview and Edenvale | Ekurhuleni's electricity department |
| Mogale City | Krugersdorp and surrounds | Mogale City's electricity department |
| Eskom (direct) | Soweto, and parts of Midrand, Sandton, Fourways, Kyalami and outlying smallholdings | Eskom's SSEG application process |
What Needs to Be Registered
| System | Registration |
|---|---|
| Grid-tied solar PV | Required |
| Hybrid solar with battery | Required |
| Installed battery backup system wired into the DB board | Required |
| Plug-in trolley inverter or portable power station | Generally excluded |
| Solar water heater or geyser | Excluded |
| Off-grid system with no possible grid connection | Not a grid connection; CoC still required |
Key Requirements
- Approval before connection. City Power and the City of Tshwane expect the application to be approved before the system is installed or connected. Do not let an installer connect first and apply later.
- Approved inverter. The inverter must be tested to NRS 097-2-1, with the certificate for the exact model number.
- Certificate of Compliance. Issued by an electrician registered with the Department of Employment and Labour.
- Documentation. Application form, single-line diagram showing the point of connection, equipment specifications, and proof of ownership or the owner's authorisation. Some utilities also ask for professional sign-off or building plan approval.
- Metering. City Power installs a bidirectional (smart) meter at the customer's cost and moves SSEG customers from prepaid to postpaid. Tshwane requires a bidirectional meter before any export is allowed.
- Export control. Systems that are not approved to export must prevent power flowing back into the grid.
The Registration Process
- Check your bill to confirm whether City Power, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Mogale City or Eskom supplies you.
- Your installer confirms the inverter has NRS 097-2-1 certification before buying it.
- The application, single-line diagram and supporting documents are submitted to your utility.
- The utility reviews the application and may inspect the site, then issues pre-approval.
- The system is installed and commissioned.
- The CoC and commissioning documents are submitted.
- Metering is changed where required, and you receive final written approval. Keep it with your property documents.
SSEG Costs
| Item | Indicative cost (incl. VAT) |
|---|---|
| Utility application and meter change | Varies by utility; confirm current fees before applying |
| Eskom connection fees (Eskom customers) | Eskom has waived fees for systems up to 50kVA registered by 30 September 2026; check whether this has been extended |
| Single-line diagram and documents | R1,500 - R4,000 |
| Professional sign-off, where required | R1,500 - R5,000 |
| Certificate of Compliance | R1,500 - R4,500 |
| Registering an existing system (inspection, fixes, paperwork) | R3,500 - R12,000+ |
Ask about ongoing costs as well as once-off fees. Moving to a postpaid or SSEG tariff can raise your monthly fixed charges, which changes the payback on a small system.
Compare installers who include the full SSEG process in their quote.
Compare Solar Installers GautengSelling Power Back in Gauteng
Export is more limited in Gauteng than in some other metros. Where it is allowed, you need approval and a bidirectional meter, and the feed-in rate is usually well below what you pay for electricity. Tshwane reviews its tariffs every July, and City Power and Ekurhuleni set their own terms. Most Gauteng homes size systems to use their own solar rather than to export. Check the current terms before counting on export income.
Registering an Existing System
Many older systems were installed without registration, or with an inverter that does not have NRS 097-2-1 certification. A technician can inspect the installation, correct wiring and protection, issue a new CoC and prepare the documents. If the inverter is not approved, it may need to be replaced first. See solar inverter repairs for replacement considerations.
Why Registration Matters in Practice
- Selling your home. Buyers, agents and conveyancers increasingly ask for the CoC and SSEG approval.
- Insurance. Insurers may query claims involving uncertified electrical work, which matters in a province with frequent hail and lightning.
- Export. Only registered systems with the right meter can export legally.
- Compliance. Utilities can issue notices and disconnect unregistered systems, and penalties have been announced for systems that are not registered.
Common Reasons Applications Are Delayed
- Inverter certificate not matching the installed model exactly.
- Missing or incorrect single-line diagram.
- Applying to the wrong utility, for example City Power when Eskom supplies the property.
- CoC not covering the solar or battery installation.
- Owner's authorisation missing where a tenant or agent applies.
- Backlogs at the utility. Ask your installer what turnaround they are currently seeing.
Solar Installers Gauteng compares installers who handle registration for you. For the full installation process, see solar installation in Gauteng.
SSEG Registration Questions
Do I need to register my solar system in Gauteng?
Yes, if it is connected to or can connect to the grid. This includes installed battery backup systems, not only solar panels.
Who do I register with?
Whoever sends your electricity bill: City Power in most of Johannesburg, the City of Tshwane in Pretoria and Centurion, the City of Ekurhuleni on the East Rand, Mogale City in Krugersdorp, or Eskom if you are an Eskom customer.
Do I need to register if I do not export power?
Yes. Grid-connected systems must be registered whether or not they export.
Will registering change my electricity account?
It can. City Power moves SSEG customers from prepaid to postpaid with a smart meter, and some tariffs carry higher fixed charges. Ask your utility or installer before applying.
Is a trolley inverter an SSEG system?
Plug-in trolley inverters and portable power stations are generally excluded, because they are not wired into the electrical installation.
Can I register a system installed years ago?
Yes, usually after an inspection, any corrections needed, a current CoC and the required documents. An inverter without NRS 097-2-1 certification may need replacing.
Can I earn money from my solar system in Gauteng?
Only a little, in most cases. Export needs approval and a bidirectional meter, and feed-in rates are low. Most systems are sized to use their own power.
Related Solar Services
Solar Installers Gauteng is a free quote-comparison service. Installation, repair and maintenance work is carried out by the independent solar installers that quote you, and your contract is with the installer you appoint. Ask each installer for a written, itemised quote, the registered electrician who will issue the Certificate of Compliance, and their equipment and workmanship warranty terms before appointing anyone.
SSEG Registration Gauteng. Compare installers who include City registration in the job.
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