Guides · Emergencies
Constantia and Bishopscourt are known for large properties, and a house with an inverter, batteries or solar panels brings paperwork that the electrical wiring alone does not cover. Installing the system is one job. Having the paperwork right is another, and it is the part that comes back when a house is sold.
What the City asks for
The City of Cape Town requires authorisation for embedded generation. In its own words you are required to apply for authorisation from the City if you intend installing an embedded generation system, and that includes solar with or without batteries, and inverter-and-battery systems on their own. The City issues a Permission to Install letter once an application is submitted. The system may then be installed, but may not be switched on until it has been commissioned and approved.
- Authorised inverters only. The City publishes a list of approved PV inverters, and the inverter must be on it.
- An ECSA-registered professional signs off. For a home, the City allows an ECSA-registered professional technician to certify a residential installation.
- The certificate of compliance is uploaded. The City asks for the electrical installation certificate along with a signed Supplemental Contract once the system is signed off.
- The City then emails a Commissioning Letter. That letter is the document to keep.
Registration is free. The City charges a fee only if you fail to register.
A certificate of compliance is not the same as approval
This is the point we see misunderstood. The City says an installation issued only with a certificate of compliance is not authorised to connect to its network. The electrical certificate shows the wiring is safe. The City's authorisation is a separate step. A buyer's attorney or agent may ask for both when a house with solar or an inverter is transferred.
What happens if it was never registered
A property with an unregistered system can be issued a contravention notice and a service fee. The City's published steps are to disconnect the system within five working days, provide a certificate of compliance, register within one month and finish authorisation within three months. The City also says that failure to comply could result in your supply being disconnected, and that it will not grant exemptions for retrospective applications. It is far better to find out before a sale than during one.
Large properties, long cable runs
Many properties here have outbuildings, cottages, pool pumps and gates a long way from the main house, and some have a borehole. When the backup circuits are split across several boards, the question is which circuits the inverter actually feeds, and whether the labelling on each board says so. We cover borehole pumps in our guide to boreholes in Tokai and Constantia, and solar and pool pumps in our Bishopscourt guide.
Selling in Constantia or Bishopscourt
If you are selling, the electrical certificate of compliance is required on transfer, and an inverter or battery wired into the board is part of what is inspected. Our guide to the electrical certificate in Constantia, Tokai and Bergvliet explains what is checked. Properties in Eskom's supply area need Eskom's consent instead of the City's, so check whose area you are in.
Where we work
We work in Constantia, Bishopscourt, Tokai, Bergvliet, Claremont, Newlands and across the Southern Suburbs and South Peninsula. WhatsApp us on 074 490 3100 or email enquiries@lightningfast.co.za. Office hours are Monday to Friday 07:30 to 17:30 and Saturday 08:00 to 13:00.
Common questions
Do I have to register an inverter and battery with the City of Cape Town?
Yes, if it is wired into your distribution board. The City treats solar PV with or without batteries, and battery-only inverter systems, as grid-tied, and requires authorisation before the system is switched on. Registering is free. The City charges a fee only if you fail to register.
What happens if my inverter was never registered?
The City can issue a contravention notice and a service fee. Its published steps are to disconnect the system within five working days, provide a certificate of compliance, register within a month and conclude authorisation within three months. Failure to comply could result in your electricity supply being disconnected.
Is an electrical certificate of compliance enough for my solar system?
No. The City says an installation with only a certificate of compliance is not authorised to connect to its network. It also needs the City's approval and the commissioning sign-off, and the commissioning report is signed by an ECSA-registered professional.
Do plug-in portable inverters need registration?
The City's requirements exempt portable (trolley) inverters that are not wired to the distribution board and have no fixed solar panels. Anything wired into the board is covered.
I am selling a house with an inverter. What should I have ready?
The City's Commissioning Letter for the system, the certificate of compliance and your installer's paperwork. If you cannot find them, ask your installer first.