4 minutes ago, Denns said:

Its a bit of adjusting thats for sure. I have a gas and electric kettle, 90% of the time my wife uses the gas one as she understands we have a small inverter. My kettle was a 2000W one but I replaced it with a 1100W kettle so if guests come over and want to make a quick cup of tea they run that.

We have done most of the adjusting already. We learned a long time ago that too many kitchen appliances on at the same time is the kiss of death. I have moved the run times for the heat pump away from the times when people are making themselves breakfast and a hot drink.

We have full gas for cooking, but the microwave and air fryer get used a lot. This gets me all twitchy, but in fact the system never trips and we get through the night on the battery, so I have to get over it.

As it is, most days we could actually run off-grid with our current routines. If I installed an 8kW inverter then we'd likely have no problems. And it may get to the point where that outlay makes rands and cents sense. It would invalidate my SSEG registration, but if we're going to go off-grid then so what?

1 minute ago, Bobster. said:

Are there any variables in this? EG how far you are from the sub station? Where your meter is?

I presume that as with so many things to do with the City, your account has to be paid up and you may not be in dispute with the City.

Doesnt seem like it. They dont remove the cabling if i am not mistaken. Only the apparatus inside the box with the meter and the breaker. Similar to how your equipment gets removed if you had an illegal connection.

And yes, the account must be paid up which fortunately I am good in that regard. All my readings were actual and have been 0kWh usage for a bit now.

5 minutes ago, OceanWanderer said:

Congratulations! Please keep us posted on the progress!

Will do

2 minutes ago, Bobster. said:

As it is, most days we could actually run off-grid with our current routines. If I installed an 8kW inverter then we'd likely have no problems. And it may get to the point where that outlay makes rands and cents sense. It would invalidate my SSEG registration, but if we're going to go off-grid then so what?

That kind of sucks. So if you change anything on the solar installation you have to register again?

I got my solar in Feb last year. I have saved about 20k in my bill to date. I have paid off my GEL battery bank (11k for the 10 batteries) and my inverter (3.3k I paid for it). I am already way on my way to paying off the panels and accessories used. It was a self install so the labor I saved on.

This year, being off-grid without the fixed charges, I will save about 40k rand. My entire system with the solar geyser conversion was 78k. So by April next year I would have paid off my entire system.

A 12kW inverter now (Axpert clone) is about 9 to 10k) from Ecco. I will wait for my inverter to die and get one of those. Mine has run for a year now (also a clone from MUST) and has been perfect. Even if it packs up in 3 years, it has paid for itself multiple times over. So I wont be buying the more expensive brands as I dont think a 12kW Sunsynk for example which costs 30 to 40k will last 3 to 4 times longer.

So if one is willing, they can get a good deal on a 8kW plus inverter without breaking the bank.

33 minutes ago, Denns said:

That kind of sucks. So if you change anything on the solar installation you have to register again?

I got my solar in Feb last year. I have saved about 20k in my bill to date. I have paid off my GEL battery bank (11k for the 10 batteries) and my inverter (3.3k I paid for it). I am already way on my way to paying off the panels and accessories used. It was a self install so the labor I saved on.

This year, being off-grid without the fixed charges, I will save about 40k rand. My entire system with the solar geyser conversion was 78k. So by April next year I would have paid off my entire system.

A 12kW inverter now (Axpert clone) is about 9 to 10k) from Ecco. I will wait for my inverter to die and get one of those. Mine has run for a year now (also a clone from MUST) and has been perfect. Even if it packs up in 3 years, it has paid for itself multiple times over. So I wont be buying the more expensive brands as I dont think a 12kW Sunsynk for example which costs 30 to 40k will last 3 to 4 times longer.

So if one is willing, they can get a good deal on a 8kW plus inverter without breaking the bank.

It is all the luck of the draw. You could have had a no name clone with say lightning damage imported yourself and the great experience could be different.

My experience at a time. I imported a brick 12V inverter and it had running solder on the thick cables. I tried everything to have it replaced but no dice. Took the knock and never imported any item again. It was a reputable seller with good rating. Then used a Axpert clone 3kW Plus and it was only used during LS and retired in Feb but it is still in great shape and not a single problem. I just don't run these gadgets at full output.

I would still like to see how well your batteries last going forward.

20 minutes ago, Scorp007 said:

It is all the luck of the draw. You could have had a no name clone with say lightning damage imported yourself and the great experience could be different.

My experience at a time. I imported a brick 12V inverter and it had running solder on the thick cables. I tried everything to have it replaced but no dice. Took the knock and never imported any item again. It was a reputable seller with good rating. Then used a Axpert clone 3kW Plus and it was only used during LS and retired in Feb but it is still in great shape and not a single problem. I just don't run these gadgets at full output.

I would still like to see how well your batteries last going forward.

Yeah, MUST and Ecco have local representation so I would only stick to brands with local support and warranty. I see they are offered with 5 year repair warranties so not too bad. Importing from Temu from example wont be a good idea. I bought mine from Solarwarehouse SA.

The GELs are 1 year old now and havent lost any capacity. I accidentally used PM instead of AM on my pool timer when I was reconfiguring on Tuesday and my pool pump ran at night, using about 4.5kWh if I remember well. My battery SOC was about 60% so with a 700W load at the time the pool ran with fans etc, the batteries are still operating as 100ah. I have 12kWh in total from the 10.

I am currently using the savings from solar to save for lithium. I will DIY an 2x8kWh 24V lithium bank with cells from cellsupply to replace it when the bank dies which I will later configure to series when I get a 48V inverter. Will cost about 30k to do.

1 hour ago, Denns said:

That kind of sucks. So if you change anything on the solar installation you have to register again?

Actually, maybe not. Depends what they keep on record. The application includes the serial number of your inverter and GPS locations. They tell you not to change anything. But the letter says I have a 5kW system on stand such-and-such connected to meter so-and-so.

There was verbally given information that if anything changes so that the system differs from the line drawing then I have to re-register. But nothing in the paperwork.

Edited January 15Jan 15 by Bobster.
FORMATTING

6 minutes ago, Bobster. said:

They tell you not to change anything. But the letter says I have a 5kW system on stand such-and-such connected to meter so-and-so.

On 2026/01/15 at 5:04 PM, Bobster. said:

On 2026/01/15 at 5:04 PM, Bobster. said:

Hi Bobster

Did COJ actually concert you to post paid after registration?

David

I'm on pre-paid, direct with Eskom. When the day comes that they want to move me over to post-paid, and/or register, on that day I will tell their technicians to disconnect me at the street. Everything inside of that, is not their concern. My COC has noting to do with them, and all the wiring aft of the street, has nothing to do with them.

6 hours ago, Hyades said:

My COC has noting to do with them

I suspect while you have a residential building, the municipality can ask for your CoC. There are just more hoops to jump if you connect an inverter to their grid.

10 hours ago, OceanWanderer said:

Hi Bobster

Did COJ actually concert you to post paid after registration?

David

No. I choose to read that letter as they may do stuff, but so far they have not.

17 hours ago, frivan said:

I suspect while you have a residential building, the municipality can ask for your CoC. There are just more hoops to jump if you connect an inverter to their grid.

Only if you want to connect to their network. Otherwise it has nothing to do with them. They have no say what’s inside your yard otherwise if you have no grid connection.

Also goes with registration. Eskom clearly states that grid tied homes must be registered if they have PV installed.

Edited January 18Jan 18 by Denns

2 hours ago, Denns said:

Only if you want to connect to their network. Otherwise it has nothing to do with them

They will make you apply for building approvals if you put up buildings, so I can't see why they won't require a CoC if they think you have a generator or solar system... Otherwise start a meth-lab.

In Cape Town the municipal by laws require a COC irrespective of whether you have a grid connection or not.

I would think that your insurance company would also require a COC, otherwise how would they now the internal wiring was up to standard.

Pretty sure the same would apply in the rest of SA, would need a COC, just not the part of the COC dealing with grid connection.

1 hour ago, frivan said:

They will make you apply for building approvals if you put up buildings, so I can't see why they won't require a CoC if they think you have a generator or solar system... Otherwise start a meth-lab.

Off course you need a CoC for your house, for insurance reasons, if anything goes wrong, also when you sell, you require a CoC to be done. This however, has nothing to do with Eskom/COJ, what happens inside your property, aft of their connection in the street, is not their indaba. Yes, off course they can dictate what they want if you feed into the grid (their network), this also, is normal, and understandable. My concern/issue, is that I don't want to move from a prepaid system that I've been on for many years, working flawlessly, to a postpaid system. When that day comes, when they knock on my door, I will tell them, disconnect me from the grid.

Edited January 18Jan 18 by Hyades

3 hours ago, Denns said:

Also goes with registration. Eskom clearly states that grid tied homes must be registered if they have PV installed.

This is new. They didn't require it before. In fact, my prepaid was done by Eskom, after my solar was installed. Had the Eskom guys checking the system out when they did my move from postpaid to prepaid, and they were all happy back then (circa 2022/3)

Edited January 18Jan 18 by Hyades

49 minutes ago, Hyades said:

Off course you need a CoC for your house, for insurance reasons, if anything goes wrong, also when you sell, you require a CoC to be done. This however, has nothing to do with Eskom/COJ, what happens inside your property, aft of their connection in the street, is not their indaba. Yes, off course they can dictate what they want if you feed into the grid (their network), this also, is normal, and understandable. My concern/issue, is that I don't want to move from a prepaid system that I've been on for many years, working flawlessly, to a postpaid system. When that day comes, when they knock on my door, I will tell them, disconnect me from the grid.

Exactly. The utilities have no interest in anyone’s COC if you aren’t connected to their grid. COC requirement for other things is something else.

They ask for COC when you want to connect to their network. They don’t ask for it when you disconnect. Throughout the entire off grid application process they had no interest in my COC or how I generate my power. You can power your house off a rock and they won’t care.

1 hour ago, Hyades said:

This is new. They didn't require it before. In fact, my prepaid was done by Eskom, after my solar was installed. Had the Eskom guys checking the system out when they did my move from postpaid to prepaid, and they were all happy back then (circa 2022/3)

Yeah, you need to register by March this year or some penalties will be issued etc.

On 2026/01/18 at 1:15 PM, Denns said:

Yeah, you need to register by March this year or some penalties will be issued etc.

Have they outlined, what these "fines" will be? As far I can tell, it's still very much a grey area. I am still of the opinion, that when they come knocking, I'll just tell them to disconnect me, and be done with it.

I've been following your thread on MyBB. Are you still confident that you'll be disconnected, and sorted soon?

The City has said that there will be disconnections for residents who do not co-operate with City Power staff, and that there will be penalties on over due amounts. Certainly they can already start applying interest on overdue amounts, but in cases where meters are bridged it's hard for them to know exactly how much you owe them.

City Power gave a deadline in June - for people who have PV and pre-paid. Possibly Eskom have some deadline for March.

1 hour ago, Hyades said:

Have they outlined, what these "fines" will be?

There's this

This makes little sense to me, because buying lots of prepaid upfront does not save you money because of the sliding scale. It is cheaper to buy a small amount each month.

Anyhoo... this looks like the City are disconnecting, then charging the fee for reconnection. In some cases.

I say "some cases" because I have a registered system and a pre-paid meter. There are other folks in my street with PV, and some of them are on pre-paid too. Nobody has disconnected any of us, though some are planning to disconnect from the grid.

Thanks for the info @Bobster.

Hmmm, not sure what the correct way forward is.

(1)There is a part of me that still thinks this, like the whole e-tolls saga will blow over once enough people have said they will disconnect completely, thus drying up their revenue greatly.

(2)Other part is telling to just disconnect now and get it over and done with.

(3)Then there is the procrastination part of me, do nothing and see what happens, haha.

PS, I am directly with Eskom in Fourways. Not via CoJ/CP.

Edited January 20Jan 20 by Hyades

3 hours ago, Hyades said:

Have they outlined, what these "fines" will be? As far I can tell, it's still very much a grey area. I am still of the opinion, that when they come knocking, I'll just tell them to disconnect me, and be done with it.

I've been following your thread on MyBB. Are you still confident that you'll be disconnected, and sorted soon?

I dont know about soon but It will definitely happen. I went to COJ to pay the quote but alas, it was not on their system. Went to citipower and citipower has the quote on their system. So the system at coj seems to be a mess. The lady at CP said she will send the quote again. Its one of those things where you have to keep following up or else nothing gets done

The last step is basically the payment of that quote. Then they can come remove their equipment.

2 hours ago, Denns said:

I went to COJ to pay the quote but alas, it was not on their system. Went to citipower and citipower has the quote on their system. So the system at coj seems to be a mess

This is one of the drivers of the activity we are seeing from City Power. They were unhappy with COJ's billing and meter reading, so they are taking that back in house.