Commercial solar in Gauteng, designed, funded and built by one team

We handle your solar installation in Johannesburg, from City Power’s design approval to final sign-off.

Smaller businesses pay a seasonal energy charge per kWh plus a fixed monthly service charge and a capacity charge. Larger users are on industrial tariffs with a demand charge per kVA, or on time-of-use tariffs with peak, standard and off-peak rates. The City set an average increase of 8.63% from 1 July 2026, and some customers pay more than the average.

Registering solar

1. Grid-tied and hybrid systems up to 1 MVA must be registered, at businesses and homes alike, and registration is free.
2. City Power approves the design before installation, then gives final approval once the certificate of compliance and commissioning report are in.
3. Inverters need an NRS 097-2-1 certificate, and systems of 350 kVA or more need a grid impact study.
4. To export power you need a post-paid, bi-directional smart meter, which City Power installs at your cost.

Recently: In January 2026, reports that City Power would move prepaid solar users to post-paid billing caused an outcry. City Power said there is no blanket policy, and that only customers who export need a bi-directional post-paid meter.

Checked 12 October 2026. Source: City Power (citypower.co.za), City of Johannesburg 2026/27 budget report, Energize, 13 January 2026 (news report).

We prepare the application for your solar installation in Pretoria or Centurion and follow it up with the City.

Larger businesses on bulk low-voltage or 11 kV supplies pay a fixed monthly charge, a demand charge per kVA of their highest half-hourly demand, and an energy charge per kWh. New bulk connections go onto time-of-use tariffs, where a kWh costs most in winter (June to August) peak hours. Smaller businesses pay a monthly fixed charge set by their circuit-breaker size plus a flat rate per kWh. The City raised its electricity tariffs by 8.8% from 1 July 2026.

Registering solar

1. Apply to the City and get written approval before installing, and buy no equipment until then.
2. The application needs the inverter’s NRS 097-2-1 certificate and a circuit diagram of the system.
3. A registered professional engineer or technologist signs off commissioning, and the City fits a bidirectional meter at your cost.
4. Once the City approves the system, exported power is credited per kWh, as long as the site stays a net consumer over the year.

Recently: The City’s 2025/26 tariffs added a credit for exported solar power, and its draft 2026/27 tariffs keep it. SAPVIA, the solar industry body, has raised slow approvals with the City, which is reviewing its process.

Checked 12 October 2026. Source: City of Tshwane, 2 July 2026, City of Tshwane tariff schedule 2025/26, City of Tshwane draft 2026/27 budget, City of Tshwane embedded generation requirements, republished with its proposed policy (August 2025), City of Tshwane, 19 March 2024, SAPVIA (industry body).

We size the system around your load and demand charges, and handle the City’s studies and sign-off.

The City supplies both areas: its Rosslyn substation serves the industrial north, including the automotive zone, and its Waltloo substation serves Silverton and Waltloo. Rosslyn is home to BMW Group Plant Rosslyn and the Automotive Supplier Park; Silverton to Ford’s assembly plant and the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone. Plants this size are billed on bulk tariffs with a demand charge per kVA, and the City moves customers using more than 1 000 kWh a month onto time-of-use rates.

Registering solar

1. The City’s embedded generation requirements say low-voltage systems above 350 kVA, and medium-voltage connections, may need a grid impact study at your cost.
2. The same requirements limit generation on a dedicated low-voltage feeder to 75% of the site’s notified maximum demand.
3. Business customers with solar stay on their normal tariff, fixed and demand charges included, so we model the saving against your own half-hourly data.

Recently: Nissan agreed in January 2026 to sell its Rosslyn plant to Chery, which has chosen Tshwane as its new manufacturing base.

Checked 12 October 2026. Source: City of Tshwane State of the Capital Address 2026, City of Tshwane tariff schedule 2025/26, City of Tshwane embedded generation requirements, republished with its proposed policy (August 2025), BMW Group Plant Rosslyn, AIDC Automotive Supplier Park, SAnews, 6 November 2020, Engineering News, 23 January 2026 (news report).

We apply to Eskom, including any move to a time-of-use tariff.

Businesses up to 100 kVA are usually on Businessrate: one energy charge per kWh plus daily capacity, service and administration charges. Miniflex and Megaflex are time-of-use tariffs with peak, standard and off-peak rates by season, and capacity and demand charges per kVA. Eskom’s increase for direct customers was 8.76% from 1 April 2026.

Registering solar

1. Businessrate is only for supplies without grid-tied generation, so a business adding grid-tied solar moves to a time-of-use tariff such as Miniflex. The two applications can run together.
2. Eskom runs a capacity study and issues a quotation before connection, and systems over 100 kW also register with NERSA.
3. Before the system is switched on, Eskom needs a compliance test report, a certificate of compliance, the inverter’s NRS 097 certificate and the safety labels.
4. Power exported on a time-of-use tariff is credited under Gen-offset, up to the energy you bought in the same period each month.

Recently: Eskom has waived registration and connection fees for small systems until further notice. Reports describe the waiver as covering homes, so we confirm whether it applies to your site.

Checked 12 October 2026. Source: Eskom Tariffs and Charges Booklet 2026/27, Eskom SSEG application process, Engineering News, 1 October 2026 (news report).

We apply for the City’s consent and handle commissioning sign-off.

Smaller business supplies up to 100 kVA pay a monthly basic charge, a capacity charge per ampere and a seasonal energy charge, higher from June to August. Larger supplies add a demand charge and a network access charge per kVA, with time-of-use energy rates and a reactive energy charge.

Registering solar

1. You need the City’s written consent before connecting any generator, and that applies to commercial and industrial sites.
2. The City issues a first approval before construction and a final approval after commissioning.
3. Designs above 18 kVA are signed off at commissioning by a registered professional engineer or technologist, and inverters need NRS 097-2-1 type-test certificates.
4. The site must stay a net consumer each month, and the City fits a four-quadrant import and export meter at your cost.
5. Sites inside Ekurhuleni that Eskom supplies apply to Eskom, not the City.

Recently: The 2026/27 tariffs include an export credit for registered systems, which the City will pay once its billing system can bill it. In January 2026 the High Court set aside the City’s 2024/25 tariffs after a challenge by industrial users.

Tariff C or Tariff E: what Ekurhuleni’s 2026/27 tariffs mean for your business

Checked 12 October 2026. Source: Ekurhuleni electricity tariffs 2026/27, Ekurhuleni embedded generation guideline, Ekurhuleni electricity tariff policy, Ekurhuleni registration process, EWN, 15 January 2026 (news report).

We confirm the current rules and any levy with Emfuleni and Eskom.

Small businesses are on prepaid or conventional commercial tariffs with seasonal energy rates. Larger supplies pay a basic charge, a demand charge per kVA and summer and winter energy rates, and Miniflex, Megaflex and Nightsave time-of-use tariffs are offered. The council approved a 13.5% increase for 2026/27, subject to NERSA.

Registering solar

1. Eskom runs billing, queries and new connections as the municipality’s agent.
2. The 2025/26 business tariffs carry no charge specific to solar.
3. The municipality publishes no registration process for solar, so we confirm the requirements with Emfuleni and Eskom for your site.

Recently: In June 2026 the council approved in principle a once-off application fee and a monthly levy on solar users. Reports describe it as aimed at households, and it is being contested. We check where it stands before we design.

Checked 12 October 2026. Source: Emfuleni tariff booklet 2025/26, Emfuleni council resolution, 10 June 2026, EWN, 4 October 2024 (news report), Sedibeng Ster, 15 June 2026 (news report).