Guides · Emergencies
Owners in Camps Bay, Clifton, Bishopscourt, Constantia, Newlands and Claremont ask the same first question: what does it cost? The honest answer is that the range is wide, and what drives it is how much you want to run and for how long.
What drives the price
- Inverter size. A larger inverter carries bigger loads at once, such as a pool pump and a heat pump together.
- Battery capacity. This sets how long you stay on. It is usually the largest single cost.
- Panels. Optional, and we install them too. They reduce what you buy from the grid but add equipment, roof work and approval steps.
- The installation. Distance between the inverter, battery and board, the state of the existing board, and access on steep or multi-storey sites all affect labour.
- Paperwork. The electrical certificate and the City of Cape Town authorisation steps.
What published prices look like
A September 2026 South African guide gives hardware-only ranges for a 5 kW system: about R55,000 to R60,000 grid-tied with six panels, and about R115,000 to R120,000 for a hybrid with eight panels and two batteries. It states that installation labour, certificates and service charges are extra. Treat those figures as a rough guide, not a quote.
Benefits beyond backup
- Lights, fridge, Wi-Fi, security and gates keep running during outages.
- Protection from the surges that often come when power returns.
- Less grid power used if panels are added.
- A documented, certified system helps when you sell. See what the City requires.
How we quote
We ask what must stay on, look at the board and the places where the equipment can go, and give you a written quote. For homes in Bishopscourt and Constantia with long cable runs, or in Camps Bay and Clifton with salt air and tight space, the site visit matters most.
Common questions
How much does a home inverter and battery cost in Cape Town?
Published South African guides in 2026 put a 5 kW hybrid system with two batteries and panels at roughly R115,000 to R120,000 in hardware, and a grid-tied 5 kW system with panels at roughly R55,000 to R60,000, before labour, certificates and extras. Your price depends on the site, so we quote after we see it.
What is included in the initial cost?
Inverter, battery, any panels, mounting, cabling, protection devices and the distribution board work, then labour, the electrical certificate and the City registration steps.
Is a battery worth it if I only want backup?
If the aim is to keep lights, fridge, Wi-Fi and security running through outages, a battery-and-inverter system without panels is the simplest option. Panels cut the amount of power you buy from the grid, but add cost.
Do bigger houses need bigger systems?
Not automatically. Size follows what you want to keep running, not how large the house is. A big house that only needs lights, Wi-Fi and security may need less than a smaller one with a pool pump and heat pump.