Eskom Hikes Costs For Solar Users As Grid Fees Soar

Homeowners with solar panels will soon face steep increases in their electricity bills as Eskom rolls out higher fixed charges and mandatory compliance costs.

From 1 April, the basic cost of remaining connected to the Eskom grid will surge by at least 88, impacting direct Eskom customers with rooftop solar installations. This comes as part of the utility's plan to restructure its tariffs, aiming to distribute grid maintenance costs more evenly.

In addition to the increased fees, all solar users must transition to Eskom's Homeflex tariff plan, which requires installing a smart meter at their own expense. The cost of compliance-including registration, certification, and installation-could range from R20 000 to R50 000. Those who fail to comply by the 31 March 2026 deadline risk penalties or disconnection, as reported by News24 .

Eskom's Acting GM for Electricity Pricing, Terry Njuguna, justified the shift by stating that solar users have been avoiding capacity charges, effectively receiving an unintended subsidy from those without solar. The new pricing model, she explained, ensures that all grid-connected users share the costs fairly.

'Customers with rooftop solar were not contributing to the capacity costs, meaning others were subsidising them. By restructuring the tariffs, those with solar can avoid variable charges but will still need to pay their share for grid access,' Njuguna said.