City Power Implements Mandatory Six Step Solar Application Process Sparking Backlash Over Costly Red Tape

Johannesburg's City Power introduces a six step solar application process, sparking warnings from OUTA about increased costs and delays for residents.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 21, 2026, 8:22 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from BusinessTech

New Regulatory Hurdles for Johannesburg Solar Seekers

City Power has officially tightened its grip on the residential and commercial renewable energy sector by introducing a rigorous six step application protocol. This new framework for Small Scale Embedded Generation mandates that no solar photovoltaic system can be legally installed within the municipality without prior formal authorization. The utility asserts that these measures are essential for ensuring grid safety and municipal compliance, effectively ending the era of unregulated rooftop solar adoption. For many residents already struggling with energy instability, this shift represents a significant new barrier to securing a reliable alternative power source.

A Complex Bureaucratic Path to Energy Independence

The revised application journey begins with the requirement for a specific electricity supply application notification number, which serves as a prerequisite for a formal solar PV submission. Following this, applicants must host a site inspection conducted by City Power technicians before any physical installation work is permitted to commence. Once the hardware is in place, the consumer must then navigate a post installation phase that includes submitting a Certificate of Compliance and a specialized PV commissioning form. The process only concludes after the utility issues both pre approval and final approval letters, creating a multi stage administrative gauntlet for homeowners.

Civil Society Warns of Discouraged Alternative Energy Investment

The Organization Undoing Tax Abuse has voiced strong opposition to the new rules, arguing that they add prohibitive costs and confusion at a critical time for the national power grid. According to the advocacy group, South Africans are turning to solar out of sheer necessity rather than luxury, driven by soaring electricity tariffs and persistent service unreliability. By imposing layers of pre and post installation oversight, City Power is accused of discouraging private investment in the energy sector. Critics argue that these steps are redundant, as professional installations are already governed by national safety standards and verified by qualified electricians.