Can Eskom fine or cut you off for not registering your solar product?

Power utility Eskom has threatened to disconnect unregistered residential solar users.

South Africans were notified last week by the company that systems up to 50kVA must be registered with municipalities or Eskom, and adhere to grid code criteria under the Electricity Regulation Act.

Energy expert Chris Yelland says Eskom has updated the campaign to say the customers will be fined.

"Whether it's cut off or fined, there are some serious legal questions about whether Eskom has the authority to issue a fine to a customer, or to cut a customer off for not registering a system."

Yelland says Eskom can't use the Electricity Regulation Act to justify this move, as the Act's scope specifically excludes residential installations.

He confirms that Eskom only has the authority to cut people off if they do not pay their bills, or if they have an unsafe system that is non-compliant.

This is determined by whether a valid certificate of compliance has been issued for the property.

"They have no authority, in my view, to cut you off because you didn't register your system."

Yelland says the figure of 50kVA contradicts the Electricity Regulation Act's 100kVA, in terms of the rules of registering the system.

To listen to Yelland, use the audio player below: