Insights & News
Energy intelligence for decision-makers
South African commercial solar, BESS, tariff and policy intelligence. News briefs, expert analysis and lessons from the field.
Electricity Market Code 2026: What C&I Prosumers Must Do Before June
South Africa's Electricity Market Code enters Phase 1 implementation in April 2026, alongside NERSA-confirmed tariff hikes of 8.76–9.01%. Here is what every C&I prosumer must do before June to stay compliant, reduce cost exposure, and access the new competitive market.
SSEG Registration in 2026: A Compliance Checklist for Systems Under and Over 100 kVA
NERSA's February 2026 clarification draws a hard line: all grid-connected SSEG systems must be registered, with systems under 100 kVA registering with Eskom or their municipality, and systems above 100 kVA registering directly with NERSA. Here is a practical compliance checklist for commercial and industrial property owners navigating both thresholds in 2026.
Municipal Bulk Tariff Hike of 9.01% Lands in July: C&I Sites on City Supply Face a Second Hit
NERSA has approved a 9.01% bulk tariff increase for municipalities, effective 1 July 2026. For C&I properties on city supply, this is the second tariff hit of the financial year — and the effective retail increase will likely be higher once municipal margins are applied.
Mulilo vs NTCSA: What the April 9 Hearing Signals for C&I Grid Access in the Northern Cape
The April 9 High Court hearing in Mulilo v Eskom goes to the heart of how grid access rights are allocated, defended, and cancelled in South Africa — with direct implications for every C&I wheeling PPA and large-scale solar project currently in development.
Bank Financing Is Straining Under Complex Solar Deals — Here's What's Changing
Bank financing for C&I solar is becoming more selective as deal complexity grows — BESS, wheeling, multi-tenant structures, and Eskom's tariff restructuring are all changing the calculus. Here's what South African CFOs and operations directors need to understand before committing to a financing structure in 2026.
China Scraps Solar Module VAT Rebate: What the April 2026 Price Shift Means for Your Project
China has officially scrapped its VAT export rebate on solar modules from 1 April 2026, driving global module price increases of 10–15% and compressing procurement windows for C&I solar and BESS projects — just as Eskom tariffs rise 8.76% on the same date.
BESS Time-of-Use Arbitrage After the April Tariff Reset: A CFO's Quantification Guide
NERSA's confirmed 8.76% Eskom tariff increase from 1 April 2026 — the first tranche of a R54.7 billion revenue recovery — widens the TOU peak-to-off-peak spread and strengthens the financial case for BESS arbitrage. This is a CFO's practical framework for quantifying the return before the municipal tariff reset hits in July.
Sungrow-Herholdt's 1,155 MWh Deal Signals a BESS Supply Surge — and a Pricing Window
Sungrow and Herholdt's Group signed a 1,155 MWh C&I BESS supply agreement at Solar & Storage Live Johannesburg 2026, signalling a supply surge that — combined with fresh NERSA tariff hikes from April 2026 — is reshaping the commercial storage investment case.
Cape Grid Backlog Hits 53 GW: Where C&I Solar Projects Can Still Connect in 2026
South Africa's Cape provinces have officially hit 0 GW of remaining firm grid capacity, with 53 GW of renewable projects queued. Here's where C&I solar can still connect in 2026 — and why acting before April matters.
City of Cape Town Expands Wheeling Network Access: 5 New Zones Approved
Cape Town's electricity wheeling programme is expanding network zone access in 2026, opening new areas of the metro to private power trading. Here is what commercial property owners need to know — and act on — right now.
SAPVIA Q1 2026 Market Data: C&I BESS Installations Overtake Standalone Solar for First Time
For the first time, C&I BESS installations are outpacing standalone solar in South Africa — driven by NERSA's confirmed 8.76% tariff hike from April 2026 and falling LFP battery costs. Here's what the SAPVIA pipeline data means for commercial property owners right now.
Grid Connection Delays in 2026: Which Municipalities Are Bottlenecking C&I Solar ROI
NERSA has confirmed an 8.76% Eskom tariff increase from 1 April 2026, but grid connection approval timelines — varying wildly between municipalities — are quietly destroying C&I solar ROI before a single panel is energised. Here's what SolarXgen is seeing on the ground today.
The New NRS 097-2-3 Compliance Deadline Is Closer Than You Think
South Africa's SSEG registration deadline of 31 March 2026 is converging with updated NRS 097-2-3 and NRS 097-2-1:2024 compliance requirements — and an 8.76% Eskom tariff increase from 1 April. Here is what C&I energy users need to do before the window closes.
BYD's New LFP Battery Tier Enters SA Market: BESS Pricing Shifts in Q1 2026
BYD's Blade Battery 2.0 brings 15–30% cost reductions to LFP battery production as global BESS pricing continues its downward trend — landing at a critical moment as NERSA confirms an 8.76% Eskom tariff hike from 1 April 2026. Here's what South African commercial property owners need to act on now.
NERSA Approves Eskom's 2026/27 Tariff Structure: What C&I Users Pay Now
NERSA has approved an 8.76% Eskom tariff increase for direct customers from 1 April 2026, up from the originally planned 5.36%, following a High Court-ordered redetermination. With fixed charges also rising and a further 8.83% hike locked in for 2027/28, C&I electricity users face a compounding cost reality that strengthens the case for funded solar and BESS solutions.