Key points
- Every home solar system needs an electrical Certificate of Compliance (CoC) from a registered person, done to SANS 10142-1. That includes off-grid systems.
- If your system has any point of connection to the grid, it must be registered: with Eskom or your municipality below 100 kW, or with NERSA at 100 kW and above. This applies even if it never exports power.
- Grid-connected inverters generally have to be on your municipality's or Eskom's approved list (NRS 097-2-1).
- A fully off-grid system with no grid connection does not need registration, but it still needs a CoC.
- The temporary solar tax incentives have ended: the rooftop credit for individuals closed in February 2024, and the 125% deduction for businesses closed in February 2025.
Last reviewed: October 2026 by Maarten Kronberger.
The rules at a glance
| Requirement |
Grid-tied or hybrid |
Off-grid (no grid connection) |
| Certificate of Compliance (SANS 10142-1) | Required | Required |
| Registration | Required: Eskom or municipality below 100 kW, NERSA from 100 kW | Not required |
| Approved inverter (NRS 097-2-1) | Generally required | Not applicable |
| Exporting power for credit | Only where your municipality or Eskom offers it, under their tariff and metering rules | Not applicable |
1. The Certificate of Compliance
The Electrical Installation Regulations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act require electrical installations to comply with
SANS 10142-1, and a registered person must issue a CoC. A solar system changes your electrical installation, so a new or updated CoC is
needed once the work is done. Registered persons are master installation electricians, installation electricians and electrical testers
for single phase, all registered with the Department of Employment and Labour.
For grid-connected systems, SANS 10142-1-2 adds specific requirements for embedded generation. Read our full guide to
SANS 10142 and solar safety standards, including the current debate about
sign-off for grid-connected systems.
2. Registration: when your system must be registered
This is the most misunderstood rule. In February 2026 NERSA clarified that whether you must register depends on two things: whether the
system has a point of connection to the grid, and its installed capacity. Whether you export power, or use it all yourself, does not matter.
- Grid connection, under 100 kW: register with your electricity distributor, which is Eskom or your municipality. Most homes fall here.
- Grid connection, 100 kW or more: register directly with NERSA.
- No grid connection: exempt from registration.
A hybrid inverter wired into a grid-supplied distribution board has a point of connection, even if it is set never to export. Eskom also
announced in October 2025 that residential customers no longer need an engineer to sign off their systems, only professionals registered with
the Department of Employment and Labour, and it waived registration and connection fees for households up to 50 kVA until March 2026.
Fees and procedures change, so confirm the current position with your distributor.
See how to register your solar system, step by step.
3. Municipal approval and approved inverters
Each municipality runs its own small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) application process, with its own forms and document requirements.
Most require a grid-connected inverter from their approved list, which is based on NRS 097-2-1, and some require a meter change if you want
to feed power back. Apply and receive approval before you connect. Our
registration guide covers the process.
4. Feeding power back to the grid
Whether you can earn credit for exported power depends entirely on your municipality or Eskom, their tariffs and the meter you have. Rates
and conditions vary widely, so do not base your sizing on export income until your distributor confirms the terms in writing. See
net metering and feed-in tariffs in South Africa.
5. Off-grid systems
A system with no connection to the grid is exempt from registration, but the electrical work still has to comply with SANS 10142-1 and be
certified with a CoC. Lithium batteries should be installed to the manufacturer's instructions, in a ventilated spot away from heat.
Read permits and legal compliance for off-grid solar.
6. Tax incentives: what is still available
The incentives many articles still advertise have ended:
- Rooftop solar tax credit for individuals (section 6C): applied to panels installed between 1 March 2023 and 29 February 2024. It has closed.
- Enhanced 125% deduction for businesses (section 12BA): applied to assets brought into use between 1 March 2023 and 28 February 2025. It has closed.
- Section 12B for businesses: the standing accelerated allowance for renewable energy assets used in a trade remains. It does not apply to private homes.
Tax rules change with each budget, so check with SARS or a tax practitioner before relying on any incentive.
7. Insurance
Tell your insurer about the installation and keep the CoC on file. Insurers can ask for it after a claim, and an uncertified installation
gives them grounds to dispute one.
Your compliance checklist
Free download: Home Solar PV Compliance Checklist
Everything above as a two-page checklist you can print and work through with your installer.
Download the checklist (PDF)
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register my solar system if I don't export power?
Yes, if it has any point of connection to the grid. NERSA's February 2026 clarification confirmed that registration depends on the grid connection and the system size, not on whether you export.
Do I need permission to install off-grid solar?
You do not need SSEG registration if the system has no connection to the grid. You do still need a CoC for the electrical work.
Can I still claim a tax rebate for home solar?
No. The individual rooftop solar credit applied to panels installed between March 2023 and February 2024 and has closed.
Who issues the CoC for a solar installation?
A registered person: a master installation electrician, an installation electrician, or an electrical tester for single phase, registered with the Department of Employment and Labour.
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