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PUBLIC NOTICE: Installing solar panels – what are the municipal requirements and processes to be followed?

1. What must a homeowner do before and after installing solar panels?

  •  Find an accredited, professional service provider who is registered as an Electrical Contractor with the department of Employment and Labour. This will confirm that the company or individual is able to issue a valid Certificate of Compliance (COC) after installation. Also verify if the company has an ECSA registered Professional who will sign off the commissioning and ensure that the installation complies with National regulations.
  • Customers can use the online web-based platform to register via https://apply.sseg.org.za/ You first have to register as an applicant to create login credentials, select George Municipality and then begin registration. We recommend that the customer let their installer fill in the application form as it contains some technical questions.
  • Documents Required for the Online Application
    A customer’s ID copy, a preliminary schematic diagram and the inverter’s datasheet/model number.
  • The municipality will assess the impact on the electricity grid and inform the applicant and service provider if they can proceed with installation.
  • The applicant must inform the municipality once installation has been completed, after which a municipal technician will inspect the installation and request a copy of the Certificate of Compliance (COC) from the installer.
  •  Any additions or alterations to an existing SSEG system must follow the same procedure as above.
  • Parallel to this, the customer must apply for Building Plans to the Building Control department. For smaller solar installations, this is classified as minor building works. This is done on the municipal collaborator portal: https://westerncape.collaboratoronline.com/default.aspx. This is a new requirement, introduced by Building Control, effective from the 1st July 2024.
  • The Electrotechnical department can issue a Permission to Install letter once the grid requirements of the proposed solar installation are met, with a condition that the customer has to apply for building plans within 3 months.
  • After Installation, the Installer should go back to the online portal to upload a CoC, an as built diagram and get the ECSA registered Professional to fill in and sign the commissioning report.
  • The customer then has to sign the supplemental contract for embedded generation.
    Follow this link to download the GM Renewable Energy Contract that requires signature and which must be submitted to tyiga@george.gov.za
  • Once all of that is done, the Electrotechnical department will issue a Permission to Generate letter, which wraps up the process.
  •  It is the customers responsibility to ensure that they have the Municipal approved meter should they wish to feed power back to the Municipal grid and that they have changed to be on a Time of Use (TOU) tariff. This can be done at the Municipal Cashiers Hall or email accounts@george.gov.za to request an application form.

    2. What are your options in terms of choosing which Amperage you will need for your home?

  • Registered customers on solar panels will no longer be charged a mandatory minimum of 40 Amps Capacity fixed costs as per the 2023/24 Tariff Schedule.
  • As with every other electricity customer, registered solar panel customers can choose their preferred Amp capacity – BUT – they cannot be on a 20 Amp capacity with no fixed costs.
  • Should they select a 20 Amp capacity level, a minimum monthly fixed cost of R246.34 as per tariff 1.C (2024/25) will be charged. (R96.61 + 117.60 (20 x R5.88) + VAT = R246.34 per month fixed cost on 20 Amps if selected).
  • Consumption cost per unit remains the same.
  • Until a selection choice is exercised, a deemed capacity of 40 Amp will continue to be used for monthly billing purposes.
  • If the customer choses a higher than 20 Amp capacity, the relevant charges as per tariff 1.C will be applied, as demonstrated in this table:

TARIFF TABLE 2023/24 vs TARIFF TABLE 2024/25 



         3. What will the charges be in terms of 2024/25 tariff book and what has changed from 2023/24?

  • Please note that users who have installed solar panels will be liable for both the basic and the capacity charge for electricity, as per the Nersa approved municipal tariffs.
  • However, the mandatory minimum fixed charge of a 40 Amp capacity for homeowners with solar panels was removed from the 2024/25 tariffs to make it possible for solar panel pre-paid electricity customers to select a lower-level capacity, effective 1 July 2024.
  • This allows registered solar panel customers using pre-paid electricity to select a lower capacity option.
  • The tariff however still retains a basic level of fixed cost to contribute to the cost of the maintenance of the electricity infrastructure in George.
  • We apologize for any confusion this may have caused. For further information, please contact accounts@george.gov.za
    4. Why must you pay for access to electricity if you have solar panels?
  • The municipality buys electricity directly from Eskom for distribution within the George Municipal area. There are no alternative suppliers. Therefore, the cost increases granted by NERSA to Eskom directly impact the municipality.
  • Besides these direct costs to purchase electricity from Eskom, the municipality also incurs cost to maintain the electricity distribution network and other related overhead cost needed to supply the electricity service to consumer homes and businesses. These costs are known as fixed cost and variable costs.
  • Section 74 of the Municipal Systems Act requires that municipal tariffs must be cost reflective and sustainable. This means that the municipality must ensure that the tariff charges recover sufficient revenue to offset the cost of buying electricity from Eskom and then supplying that electricity within the municipal area. Thus, the cost to the customer must cover at least the municipalities’ cost to enable the service.
  • The basic or fixed cost component is meant to cover the cost associated with the maintenance of the infrastructure network. It is not an “availability charge” – this is an incorrect term. It is the tariff portion related to the electrical network infrastructure.
  • The variable cost or consumption charge is meant to cover the variable costs such as the bulk electricity purchases from Eskom, the network operating and related overhead costs.For SSEG queries contact tyiga@george.gov.za
    For SSEG TOU Tariff selection contact accounts@george.gov.za for an application form
    For queries on SSEG applicable tariffs and selection of Amperage, contact accounts@george.gov.za