The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) has welcomed the decision by State-owned utility Eskom to extend the registration fee waiver for small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) systems until September 30.

In a media release, SAPVIA says this extension, alongside the announcement of a new prepaid metering option for residential solar users, marks a significant step toward making energy independence more accessible for all South Africans.

SAPVIA technical and policy manager Sim Khuluse says the association has been in consistent dialogue with Eskom and municipalities to ensure the regulatory framework for rooftop solar remains an enabler rather than a barrier.

"We applaud Eskom for listening to industry concerns regarding the March 31 deadline. By extending the waiver and introducing a prepaid-friendly path, they are removing the ‘compliance tax’ that has previously deterred many households from registering their systems.

"However, this is only half of the puzzle. While Eskom is making strides, the inconsistent, often delayed and cumbersome approval processes at a municipal level continue to act as a drag on our national energy transition,” says Khuluse.

SAPVIA also reaffirms its long-standing position that registration is not merely a bureaucratic requirement, but a critical safety and technical necessity.

It says accurate data on where solar is installed allows the Eskom distribution business unit and municipalities to manage voltage fluctuations and prevent local grid overloads.

Additionally, registration also prevents "islanding", where a private system feeds power back into a de-energised grid, putting maintenance teams at severe risk.

The association adds that standardised registration also ensures that installations meet South African National Standard 10142-1 standards, protecting homeowners' investments and insurance validity.

While Eskom customers now have a clearer, cost-free path to compliance, SAPVIA warns that many South Africans living in municipal supply areas face registration fees and months of administrative delays.

"We call on all licensed municipal distributors to follow Eskom's lead by streamlining their own SSEG processes.

"We need a unified, digital-first approach across all provinces. Inconsistent municipal by-laws create a cumulative backlog that intensifies pressure on the national grid's technical interface and frustrates the very citizens who are investing their own capital to ensure energy security,” says Khuluse.