Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has advised residential solar energy users in South Africa against hurrying to register small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) schemes with Eskom or the concerned municipalities. The organisation explained that the recent threats of fines or electricity supply cut-offs are not clear and not consistently applied, especially for residential schemes that do not feed electricity into the grid. OUTA pointed out that there have been constant changes in the requirements and deadlines for the installation of SSEG schemes under 100 kW, which has resulted in delays for residential solar energy users, installers, insurers, and financiers. It clarified that the safety requirements have already been covered by existing national standards, such as the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Electrical Installation Regulations, and SANS 10142-1, which require a valid Certificate of Compliance issued by a registered electrician. OUTA explained that registered and compliant behind-the-meter schemes should not be forced into coercive enforcement while customers continue to fulfill their contracts for electricity supply.

2026-01-29-outa-gks