Is South Africa on net metering?

Pure 1:1 net metering is uncommon for residential customers in major metros. Net billing or export credits at a published rate, or zero-export settings, are the patterns to expect — confirm your distributor’s latest SSEG tariff schedule.

Money & tariffs

Do municipalities pay for solar feed-in in South Africa?

Q: Do municipalities pay for solar feed-in in South Africa?

Yes, where registered. For 2026/27 residential export credits (approx. incl. VAT): Cape Town ~152.93 c/kWh, City Power Johannesburg 143.29 c, eThekwini ~184.60 c, Tshwane ~108.25 c (NERSA RfD — confirm with City). All are well below retail buy rates, so design for self-use first.

Some metros credit exports, but usually at less than you pay to import. This page explains net billing vs true net metering, what to verify in Cape Town, Joburg, Tshwane, eThekwini and Eskom areas, and why self-use (and EV daytime charging) beats chasing feed-in income.

Updated 26 October 2026 · Figures are the 2026/27 municipal year (from 1 July 2026) unless stated.

Answer first: Yes — registered residential SSEG customers in the big metros can earn an export credit, but it is usually well under half of what you pay to buy a kWh. For 2026/27 (approx. incl. 15% VAT): Cape Town ~152.93 c/kWh, City Power Johannesburg 143.29 c, eThekwini ~184.60 c, Tshwane ~108.25 c (NERSA RfD). Design for self-use, battery shift and EV daytime charging; treat feed-in as a bonus line on the bill.

Net metering vs net billing vs feed-in (plain English)

Idea	What it means	SA reality
Classic net metering	Export kWh offset import kWh 1:1	Rare as a pure 1:1 consumer product in major metros
Net billing / export credit	Exports credited at a published c/kWh, often below retail	Common SSEG pattern where export is allowed
No export / zero export	Inverter capped; you still register in many cases	Frequent when metering or tariff is not ready

2026/27 residential export credits (sourced)

Rates below are from primary municipal / NERSA schedules. Metros usually publish energy charges excluding VAT; we show both. Confirm the figure printed on your account — schedules change every July.

Distributor	Export credit excl. VAT	≈ Incl. 15% VAT	Extra SSEG cost to budget	Primary source
City of Cape Town (Home User SSEG)	107.98 c/kWh feed-in + 25.00 c incentive = 132.98 c	152.93 c/kWh	Home User services/wires + AMI admin where applicable	CoCT Budget 2026/27 Annexure 6
City Power (Johannesburg)	124.60 c/kWh residential embedded generator	143.29 c/kWh	Must be on TOU conventional (prepaid SSEG must migrate); bi-directional meter; net-consumer only; ≤1 MW	City Power Annexure A1 + NERSA RfD
City of Tshwane	94.13 c/kWh “credit reverse for excess generated”	≈108.25 c/kWh	Domestic SSEG fixed line R324.00/month excl. (≈R372.60 incl.) in same NERSA block	NERSA CoT RfD 11 May 2026
eThekwini (Durban)	160.52 c/kWh residential net-billing energy	≈184.60 c/kWh	Network access R76.83/kVA of inverter / month excl. (≈R88.35 incl.); credits not paid as cash	NERSA eThekwini RfD 8 May 2026
Eskom direct	Separate SSEG / NERSA processes and tariffs — do not assume metro rates			Eskom Distribution SSEG

Tshwane caveat: The City’s public FAQ still quotes an older 11.99 c/kWh export figure. The May 2026 NERSA RfD recommends 94.13 c/kWh for 2026/27. Ask sseg@tshwane.gov.za and check your bidirectional-meter statement before you model rand income.

eThekwini caveat: Network access is billed on inverter kVA, not on what you generate. A bigger inverter than you need raises the monthly fixed hit. Credits reduce the electricity account; the City does not pay them out in cash.

Why self-use still beats chasing export

Retail import in 2026/27 metro bands is often ~R3.30–R4.70/kWh (energy). Export credits above top out around ~R1.50–R1.85/kWh incl. VAT.
A geyser timer, pool pump or EV wallbox on solar surplus turns would-be exports into avoided imports at the full retail rate.
Batteries shift midday PV into evening peaks — people’s choice for longevity when that matters: Solar MD among peers on our battery guide.

Metro rules that change the maths

City Power: residential exporters must leave prepaid for a TOU conventional tariff — budget the fixed/service change, not only the 124.60 c credit.
Cape Town: residential feed-in sits with Home User; green attributes pass to the City on the standard feed-in tariff; incentive is reviewed annually by Council.
eThekwini: size the inverter to the loads you need; every extra kVA costs network access every month.
All metros: unregistered export is unsafe and usually illegal — follow SSEG registration.

Registration is not optional “because I won’t export”

Grid-tied hybrids usually still need SSEG registration. Follow the application checklist. There is no separate national solar tax for registering — see the tariff mythbuster.