Which SA Cities Pay You for Solar? 2026 Feed-in Tariff Update

For years, surplus solar power that South African homes produced simply went to waste. That is changing. A growing number of municipalities now allow registered households and businesses to feed extra energy back into the grid and be credited for it, turning your roof into a small income stream. Here is what is happening in 2026.

How feed-in tariffs work

A feed-in tariff (sometimes structured as net billing) credits you for the surplus electricity your system exports to the grid when you are generating more than you use, typically in the middle of a sunny day. Instead of that energy being lost, it offsets what you draw at other times, reducing your net bill.

The credit is usually applied per unit exported, and the rate is set by each municipality, so it differs from one city to the next. Our deeper guide explains the mechanics in net metering and feed-in tariffs.

A patchwork that is expanding

Several of the larger metros and a growing list of smaller municipalities have introduced or expanded feed-in arrangements, often as part of programmes to encourage registered embedded generation. Because each authority runs its own scheme, with its own rates, eligibility rules and meter requirements, the only reliable way to know your position is to check directly with your municipality.

How to qualify

Feed-in eligibility almost always depends on doing things by the book:

• Your system must be registered as Small-Scale Embedded Generation. See our SSEG registration guide.
• You typically need an approved, NRCS-compliant inverter with the correct grid-protection settings.
• A bi-directional or smart meter is usually required to measure import and export separately.
• The installation must carry a valid Certificate of Compliance.

Should you size for export?

For most homes, the priority is still to use your own solar power first and store it for the evening and load shedding, because self-consumption saves more than export credits earn. Feed-in is best seen as a bonus that improves your returns, not the main reason to install.

To set up a compliant, export-ready system, request free quotes from verified installers who know your municipality's requirements.