A Critique of the Regulator’s Stance on Rooftop Solar Registration

In a recent exchange that has set the industry abuzz, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) “fired back” at the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) regarding the mandatory registration of Small-Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) systems.

The core of the dispute? NERSA insists that every rooftop solar system—even those designed purely for self-consumption with zero grid export—must be registered with Eskom or the local municipality simply because a “point of connection” exists.

The question we have to ask is simple: Does NERSA actually understand how these systems work?

The Technical Reality: Why “Grid-Tied” Doesn’t Mean “Grid-Feeding”

Judging by NERSA’s recent statements, there is a fundamental disconnect between regulatory policy and electrical engineering. Most residential solar systems installed today utilize smart inverters that are governed by strict international and local safety standards.

1. Mandatory Anti-Islanding Protection

Unless an inverter is a substandard “grey-market” import, it features Anti-Islanding Protection. This is a non-negotiable safety protocol.

• The Heartbeat Factor: The inverter requires a 50Hz (or 60Hz) “heartbeat” from the grid to function.
• Instant Shutdown: If the grid goes down, the inverter loses its reference point and shuts down instantly—typically within 100 to 200 milliseconds.
• Safety First: This prevents the system from “back-feeding” power into dead lines, which would otherwise pose a lethal risk to utility workers.
2. Voltage and Frequency Guardrails

Modern inverters are “grid-following” devices. They constantly monitor the quality of the incoming power:

• If the voltage drops below a safe threshold (e.g., 200V), the system disconnects.
• If the frequency drifts outside a narrow window (typically 47Hz to 52Hz), the system disconnects.
• Synchronization: When power returns, the system does not immediately reconnect. It must first synchronize its phase with the grid before it can safely begin operating in parallel again.

NERSA’s “Safety” Argument vs. Electrical Regulations

NERSA claims these registrations are for the “safety, reliable, and efficient operation of the electricity system.” However, any qualified electrical technician knows that the primary rule of network safety is Testing and Earthing.

The standard regulation for working on electrical networks is clear: one must test that the network is disconnected and apply proper earths to the power line before work commences. Relying on a registration database for safety is a deviation from fundamental engineering principles.

“Registration serves a distinct regulatory purpose and does not duplicate safety certification processes.”— NERSA Statement, Feb 2026

If registration doesn’t duplicate safety, and the hardware itself handles the technical protection, then we are left with a regulator demanding compliance for a problem that modern engineering has already solved.

Conclusion: A Regulator Out of Touch?

By demanding prior approval and registration for systems under 100kW that do not feed back into the grid, NERSA and Eskom are creating a bureaucratic barrier to the energy transition.

If NERSA wants to advise the industry on the technical aspects of SSEG, they should first demonstrate a grasp of the technology they are regulating. Based on their current stance, they are currently providing “advice” that ignores the built-in safety of modern power electronics and the existing protocols of electrical distribution.

It’s time for a regulation model that follows the science, not the bureaucracy.