SSEG Registration Pretoria: Get Your Solar System Approved by the City of Tshwane
We check your system, prepare the documents and handle the application, so your solar installation is registered the right way.
If you have a grid-connected solar system in Pretoria, it needs to be registered with whoever supplies your electricity. For most of the city that is the City of Tshwane. In areas Eskom supplies directly, it is Eskom. SSEG stands for small-scale embedded generation, and registration is how the supplier records your system and confirms it can safely connect to the network.
We have spent 10 years installing solar in Pretoria, and the same questions keep coming up. Do I really have to register? What documents do I need? My installer has gone, what now? This page answers them, and if you would like us to do the paperwork, we can.
Quick Answers to the Questions We Hear Most
Six things most Pretoria solar owners want to know before they register.
Do I have to register?
Yes, if your system is connected to the grid and is 100 kW or smaller. That includes hybrid systems with batteries and systems that never export power.
Do off-grid systems need it?
No. A system with no connection to the grid is exempt from SSEG registration. It still needs a valid Certificate of Compliance.
Is a CoC enough?
No. A CoC proves the electrical work is safe. Registration is a separate step with the electricity supplier.
Who do I register with?
The City of Tshwane for most of Pretoria. Eskom, if Eskom supplies your property directly. Check your electricity bill.
When?
Before you connect. In Tshwane, pre-approval comes first.
Who decides?
The City or Eskom. We prepare and submit the application, but we cannot approve it.
Not sure whether your system needs registering? Send us your suburb and system type — we will tell you honestly.
What Is SSEG Registration?
Small-scale embedded generation means electricity-generating equipment, usually rooftop solar, connected to a property's wiring and to the public network. Registration tells your supplier what you have installed, how big it is and how it behaves, so the network can stay safe for you, for your neighbours and for the people who work on the lines.
Three things get mixed up, so here they are side by side:
| Item | What it is | Who issues it |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Compliance (CoC) | Proof that the electrical installation meets the wiring regulations (SANS 10142-1) | A registered electrical contractor |
| SSEG registration | Your supplier records your grid-connected system | The City of Tshwane or Eskom |
| Approval to connect | Written permission to connect and, where relevant, export | The City of Tshwane or Eskom |
Do You Need SSEG Registration in Pretoria?
The National Energy Regulator (NERSA) clarified the rule in February 2026. Whether you must register depends on two things: whether the system has a point of connection to the grid, and its installed capacity. It does not depend on whether you export power.
| Your situation | Registration needed? |
|---|---|
| Grid-tied solar, up to 100 kW | Yes, with the distributor (City of Tshwane or Eskom) |
| Hybrid system with batteries, connected to the grid | Yes. A battery does not make you exempt |
| System set to zero export, or backup only | Yes, if it is connected to the grid |
| Existing system installed years ago | Yes. It is not too late to register |
| Fully off-grid, no connection to the grid | No |
| Grid-connected system above 100 kW | Yes, directly with NERSA |
| Home or business | The same rules apply to both |
City of Tshwane or Eskom? Who You Register With
Pretoria is not supplied by one utility. Check the name on your electricity bill.
City of Tshwane Customers
You apply through the City's electricity department. The City runs its own SSEG process, and it is not the same as Eskom's.
Eskom Customers
Some Pretoria areas are supplied directly by Eskom and follow Eskom's process. Eskom has simplified it. For eligible systems up to 50 kVA, it asks for a Certificate of Compliance, an inverter test certificate and an installation test report. Eskom has also waived its registration-related charges for those systems, and in October 2026 it extended that waiver until further notice.
SSEG Registration Tshwane: Documents You Will Need
The City's checklist can change, so we confirm the current version before we submit. These are the documents usually involved:
- SSEG application form for the City of Tshwane
- Inverter specification and NRS 097-2-1 test certificate. The inverter must meet the national grid-connection standard
- Single-line diagram (SLD) showing how the system connects to your DB board and the grid
- Site plan or layout of the panels and equipment
- Certificate of Compliance from a registered electrical contractor
- Installer registration details (Department of Employment and Labour)
- Commissioning or as-built information once the system is installed
- Proof of ownership, or the owner's permission if you rent
- Body corporate or estate approval, if it applies
SSEG Registration Process in Pretoria, Step by Step
Confirm your supplier
Check your bill to see whether the City of Tshwane or Eskom applies.
Review your system
We look at the inverter, panels, battery, wiring, protection and DB board.
Check compliance
We confirm the CoC, the inverter certificate and anything that must be fixed first.
Prepare the documents
We draw the single-line diagram, compile the datasheets and complete the forms.
Submit the application
For new systems this happens before you connect.
Answer queries
The City may ask for corrections or more detail, and we respond for you.
Inspection, meter and commissioning
The City may inspect, and a bidirectional meter may be needed if you want to export. We coordinate with your electrician.
Written approval
You receive confirmation from the City, and we give you a copy for your records and your insurer.
Want us to handle the documents and the application? Send us your suburb and we will tell you what is needed.
Registering an Existing Solar System
Many of our enquiries are from people who installed solar years ago and never registered, or whose installer has disappeared. It is not too late. Common situations:
No drawings or paperwork
We can survey the system and prepare the single-line diagram and equipment documents.
The installer is gone
We inspect the installation, check what exists and tell you what the City will need.
No Certificate of Compliance
A registered electrical contractor must inspect and certify the installation. If work is needed to pass, we tell you before you pay for anything else.
The inverter is not certified
We explain the options, which may include replacing the inverter.
You added batteries later
Adding storage to an approved system can require an amended application, so check before you expand.
Sectional title or estate
We include the body corporate paperwork.
How Much Does SSEG Registration Cost in Pretoria?
There is no single price, because several costs can sit behind the word registration. We keep them separate in your quote:
Municipal charges
The City of Tshwane sets its own application, inspection and meter charges, and they can change. We confirm the current amounts before you commit. Eskom, by contrast, has waived its registration-related charges for eligible systems up to 50 kVA, until further notice.
Technical documents
The single-line diagram, datasheets and forms.
Electrical compliance work
Inspection, testing and the Certificate of Compliance, if you do not have one.
System changes
For example, a compliant inverter or protection devices, if yours does not meet the standard.
Metering
A bidirectional meter, if you want to export power. It is usually at the customer's cost.
Our assistance fee
Quoted after the free registration check, so you know the scope before you commit.
Exporting Power, Meters and Net Metering in Tshwane
Registration and exporting are two different questions. You must register a grid-connected system whether or not you export. If you want to feed power back, the City requires approval and a bidirectional meter.
Tshwane has described its approach as crediting exported energy against your account, not paying cash out, and the City's tariff arrangements can change. Many homeowners register as zero-export and use all the power on site. We explain your options and the trade-offs, so you can decide.
Two things to keep separate
- Registration: required for every grid-connected system, whether you export or not.
- Exporting: a separate approval with the City, requiring a bidirectional meter. Usually at your cost.
Fines, Disconnection and Insurance: What Is Really at Stake
Solar owners worry about fines. Here is the situation as we understand it, without the scare tactics:
Eskom's position
Eskom has said it will not fine or disconnect residential customers just for not registering, although it still encourages registration for grid safety.
Municipal rules
Municipalities set their own rules and charges. We cannot promise you will never face a penalty or charge from the City, and we will not claim otherwise.
Insurance
Insurance is a practical reason to register. Insurers now ask more about solar installations. Tell your insurer before you install or expand, and keep your Certificate of Compliance and registration papers.
Resale
Buyers and their banks may ask for these documents.
Want the paperwork handled properly the first time? Send us your system details and we will tell you what the City will need.
Our SSEG Registration Assistance in Pretoria
What We Do
- Check your system and tell you honestly whether it can be registered as it is
- Check the inverter certificate and the electrical compliance paperwork
- Prepare the single-line diagram and the technical documents
- Complete and submit the application, and follow up with the City
- Answer technical queries from the City on your behalf
- Coordinate with a registered electrical contractor where a Certificate of Compliance is needed
- Give you a file of final documents for your records and your insurer
What We Do Not Do
- We do not approve registrations. Only the City of Tshwane or Eskom can do that
- We do not promise timelines or outcomes. We prepare complete applications and keep you informed
- We do not set the City's fees
Why SSEG Applications Get Delayed
Most delays come from the same few things:
- A single-line diagram that does not match the installed system
- A missing or old inverter certificate, or an inverter that is not certified
- No Certificate of Compliance, or one that does not match the system
- Incomplete forms or missing ownership or body corporate documents
- System changes after approval, such as extra batteries or panels
- No follow-up. Applications can sit when nobody chases them
Areas We Assist
We help owners across Pretoria and the surrounding suburbs, including Pretoria East, Centurion, Menlyn, Moreleta Park, Waterkloof, Garsfontein, Faerie Glen, Silver Lakes, Irene, Hatfield, Brooklyn and Arcadia, Montana and Pretoria North, and Wonderboom and Akasia. See all areas we serve.
Not sure where your application stands? Send us your suburb and we will tell you what is likely holding it up.
SSEG Registration FAQs
The questions Pretoria solar owners ask us most often about SSEG registration — answered honestly, in plain language.
Is SSEG registration compulsory in Pretoria?
Yes, for grid-connected systems up to 100 kW. They must be registered with the electricity distributor, which is the City of Tshwane for most of Pretoria and Eskom in Eskom-supplied areas. Fully off-grid systems are exempt.
Do hybrid solar systems need registration?
Yes, if they are connected to the grid. A battery does not make a grid-connected system exempt. A fully off-grid system, with no connection to the grid, does not need registration.
Do I need to register if I do not export electricity?
Yes. NERSA has clarified that the requirement depends on whether the system is connected to the grid and its capacity, not on whether you export. A zero-export system that is connected to the grid still needs registration.
Can I register my solar system after it has been installed?
Yes. We help owners register existing systems. The system may need checks, documents or corrections first, such as a Certificate of Compliance or a compliant inverter.
Is a Certificate of Compliance enough for SSEG registration?
No. NERSA has said a CoC confirms electrical safety but does not replace registration. You normally need the CoC as one of the documents for the application.
Can I use my solar power while waiting for approval?
In Tshwane, pre-approval is expected before you connect a grid-tied system, so connecting without approval risks breaching your connection terms. Ask us about your situation, because the answer depends on the system and the City's current rules. We will not advise you to ignore the process.
How long does Tshwane SSEG registration take?
One industry guide gives a target of about 30 working days for complete applications, but industry reports describe delays and slow feedback. Complete, accurate applications move faster. We cannot guarantee a timeline.
Can I register my solar system myself?
Yes. You can apply directly with the City or Eskom. Many owners ask us to help because the technical documents, such as the single-line diagram and the inverter certification, are easy to get wrong, and mistakes cause delays.
Does a fully off-grid system need SSEG registration?
No, if it has no connection to the electricity grid. You still need a valid Certificate of Compliance, and you should tell your insurer.
What does SSEG registration cost in Pretoria?
It depends on who supplies your power. The City of Tshwane sets its own charges. Eskom has waived its registration-related charges for eligible systems up to 50 kVA. Add the cost of documents, any compliance work and a bidirectional meter if you want to export. We confirm the amounts before you commit.
Will I be fined or disconnected for not registering?
Eskom has said it will not fine or disconnect residential customers just for not registering. Municipalities set their own rules and charges, so we cannot promise you will face none. Registering is the safe route, and it also helps with insurance and resale.
Get Help With SSEG Registration in Pretoria
Tell us what you have installed, who supplies your power and your suburb. We will tell you honestly what is needed and what it involves. No pressure and no jargon.
Prefer to talk first? Call +27 82 901 7452 — we answer Mon to Sat, 8:00am to 5:00pm.
Solar Installer Pretoria
10 years of trusted solar and SSEG registration assistance across Pretoria.
802 Arcadia Street, Pretoria
This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees are set by the City of Tshwane, Eskom and NERSA, and they change. We confirm the current requirements before we act.