There has been a lot of discussion on social media claiming that municipalities are imposing ‘fines’ or additional charges on residents who install small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) systems such as solar panels.

This is a misunderstanding.

In many municipalities, a large portion of electricity network costs has historically been
recovered through electricity consumption charges.

As more customers install solar systems and purchase fewer electricity units, some municipalities have introduced additional fixed monthly charges to recover these costs.

These charges are often incorrectly described as ‘solar fines’.

Overstrand has, however, had separate fixed electricity charges in place for a number of years. As a result, registering an SSEG system does not change the structure of your municipal account.

Registration is also free of charge.

It is a national requirement that all SSEG systems be registered with the local electricity supply authority.

Overstrand customers can register their systems on the online platform or via
the ‘Electricity and SSEG’ link on the Overstrand Municipality website.

By registering your system, you assist us with:
• Keeping municipal personnel safe while working on the network
• Maintaining grid stability
• Planning future network maintenance and upgrades

Please note: Customers who receive their electricity directly from Eskom must register their SSEG systems with Eskom and not the Municipality.

Read more: Electrical Services ‘How to Guide’