Load Applications

Definition of a Load

An electrical load is a portion of a circuit that consumes (active) electric power, such as electrical appliances and lights inside the home. The term may also refer to the power consumed by a circuit.

1. Only Owners of Properties

Only owners of properties will be allowed to apply for electricity supply, with a few exemptions:

  • Government Entities, Telecoms
  • Government Long-term lease agreement
  • Registered Businesses / Corporate Entities
  • Registered Body Corporates / Home Owners Associations
2. Contractual Requirements

The following document(s) must be attached as part of the application:

  • A letter of Authorisation would be required - When applying on behalf of another (person, company, entity, institution).
  • A deed of Sale (ownership of the Premise / Land / Property).
  • Where a lease is allowed, a copy of the Lease agreement.
  • Identification documents - e.g., National ID, Passport, Company registration, Trust registration, etc.
  • Electricity Certificate of Compliance.
  • Where Eskom is required to build anything on the property to enable the connection for a lease agreement, permission from the owner must be gained by the tenant and provided to Eskom.
For Applications up to 1MVA (MegaVolt Ampere)
  • An application is required (using this tool).
  • Once all the required documentation is received, your application will proceed to Quotation Phase.
  • Once the Quotation process has been completed, you would receive a Budget Quotation.
  • The Quotation process takes 30 Calendar Days.
  • The Budget Quotation is valid for 30 Calendar Days.
  • A Budget Quotation is deemed accepted once all required payments have been made and all Budgetary Conditions met.
For Applications Greater than 1MVA (MegaVolt Ampere)
  • An application is required (using this tool) or manual application form.
  • An Eskom representative will contact you to inform you what are the required fees to produce a Cost Estimate.
  • If you consent to proceed, an Eskom account will be opened. The fee would be raised.
  • Once the payment is made and confirmed, the Cost Estimate process will be initiated upon receipt of all required documents.
  • The Cost Estimate process takes up to 90 Calendar Days. A Cost Estimate is a non-binding cost calculation based on a high-level scope design.
  • A Cost Estimate is valid for 1 Calendar year.
  • To proceed to Budget Quotation stage, all required costs must be paid and conditions met.
  • Once payment of fees has been confirmed, the Budget Quotation phase will be initiated. This phase takes approximately 180 calendar days.
  • The Budget Quotation is valid for 180 Calendar days (120 Business Days).
  • A Budget Quotation is deemed accepted once all required payments have been made and all Budgetary Conditions met.

Generator / Renewable Applications

In accordance with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), all generators require licensing. Registration with NERSA is based on size and purpose.

Definition of a Generator

A generator is a device that converts motion-based power (potential and kinetic energy) or fuel-based power (chemical energy) into electric power for use in an external circuit.

Examples of Renewable Generators
  • Solar energy
  • Wind power
  • Hydropower
  • Bioenergy
  • Geothermal power
Generator installations in South Africa must comply with the following regulations:
  • a) South African National Standard (SANS 10142-1:2003) for the wiring of a property.
  • b) ISO SANS 8528 series of standards or ISO 8528 for the generator itself.
  • c) Health and safety regulations.
  • d) Schedule 2 (Gazette No 43151) of the Electricity Regulation Act for generator licensing and registration or exemption from registration.
For Generators Applications up to 1MW

Also known as Small Scale Embedded Generator (SSEG)

Requirements for Application
  1. For SSEG applications, applicants must already have a Grid Connection (Eskom Account for Load).
  2. Customer must be on a Time of Use Tariff (TOU) - Refer to Tariff Book ESK114-Eskom-Digital-Tariff-Booklet-2024_Final.pdf
  3. Note: Customers are required to pay an application fee before the application will be processed.
  4. Once all the required documentation is received, your application will be processed.
  5. Only owners of properties will be allowed to apply, with a few exemptions:
    • a) Government Entities, Telecoms
    • b) Government Long term lease agreement
    • c) Registered Businesses / Corporate Entities
    • d) Registered Body Corporates / Home Owners Associations
  6. Note: Tenants will have to have consent from the owner of the property for any amendments to the current Electricity plant.
  7. Contractual Requirements: The following document(s) must be attached as part of the application:
    • a) A letter of Authorisation would be required - When applying on behalf of another (person, company, entity, institution).
    • b) A deed of Sale (ownership of the Premise / Land / Property).
    • c) Tenants will have to have consent from the owner of the property for any amendments to the current Electricity plant.
  8. An application is required (using this tool).
  9. An Eskom representative will contact you to inform you are the required fee to produce a Quotation.
  10. If you consent to proceed, the fee would be raised on your Account.
  11. Only once the fee has been paid will the application proceed to Quotation stage.
  12. Once the Quotation process has been completed, you would receive a Budget Quotation.
  13. The Quotation process takes 30 - 45 Calendar Days, depending on the type of Connection required.
  14. The Budget Quotation is valid for 30 - 180 Calendar Days, depending on whether NERSA registration is required.
  15. A Budget Quotation is deemed accepted once all required payments have been made and all Budgetary Conditions met.
  16. Residential customers may qualify for an exemption for those that are 50 kilowatts and lower.
  17. Notes:
    • a) You will be required to submit an Embedded Generator Installation Report signed off by the required Authority on acceptance of your Budget Quote or as arranged with your Eskom representative.
    • b) Where NERSA registration is required, you shall be required to provide the proof of registration.
For IPP Applications > 1MW
  • IPP and grid access unit - Distribution (eskom.co.za)
  • Complete application Process (IGCAR will be applied).
  • Interim Grid Capacity Allocation Rules (eskom.co.za)
  • An Eskom representative from the Grid Access Unit (GAU) will contact you to inform you are the required fee to produce a Cost Estimate.
  • If you consent to proceed, an Eskom account will be opened. The fee would be raised.
  • Once the payment is made and confirmed, the Cost Estimate process will be initiated upon receipt of all required documents.
  • The Cost Estimate process takes up to 90 Calendar Days. A Cost Estimate is a non-binding cost calculation based on a high-level scope design.
  • A Cost Estimate is valid for 1 Calendar year.
  • To proceed to Budget Quotation stage, all required costs must be paid and conditions met.
  • Once payment of fees have been confirmed, the Budget Quotation phase will be initiated. This phase takes approximately 180 calendar days.
  • The Budget Quotation is valid for 180 Calendar days (120 Business Days).
  • A Budget Quotation is deemed accepted once all required payments have been made and all Budgetary Conditions met.

Electricity Tariffs and General Information

General Information
Time of Use (TOU)

Time-of-use (TOU) tariff means a tariff with energy charges that change during different TOU periods and seasons.

TOU periods mean time blocks based on the volume of electricity demand during high-, mid-, and low-demand periods and may differ per tariff. The TOU periods typically are peak, standard, and off-peak periods and differ during high and low-demand seasons.

Notified Maximum Demand (NMD)

The contracted maximum demand, notified in writing by the customer and accepted by Eskom per POD/point of supply. Note: The notification of demand shall be governed by the NMD (and MEC) rules.

Urban Tariffs

Megaflex: A TOU electricity tariff for Urban customers with an NMD greater than 1 MVA.

Megaflex (Gen): A TOU tariff for customers connected at medium voltage, high voltage, and transmission voltages...

Miniflex: A TOU electricity tariff for Urban customers with an NMD from 16 kVA up to 5 MVA.

Nightsave Urban - Large: Electricity tariff suitable for high load factor Urban customers...

Businessrate: Suite of electricity tariffs for supplies for commercial usage...

Public Lighting: Non-metered electricity tariff for public lighting...

Residential Tariffs

Homepower: A suite of electricity tariffs for residential customers...

Homepower - Bulk: An electricity tariff for residential bulk supplies...

Homeflex: A suite of TOU tariffs for residential customers...

Homelight: Suite of electricity tariffs based on the size of the supply...

Rural Tariffs

Ruraflex: TOU electricity tariff for Rural customers...

Ruraflex - Gen: An electricity tariff for Rural customers with a supply voltage...

Nightsave - Rural: Electricity tariff for high load factor Rural customers...

Landrate 1, 2, 3 & 4 and Dx: Suite of electricity tariffs for Rural customers...

LandLight: An electricity tariff that provides a subsidy to low-usage single phase supplies...

Generator Tariffs

TOU: The Electricity Supply must be on a TOU Tariff for any point of Generation.

Transmission Use of System Charges (TUoS): Use-of-system charges for Transmission connected generator customers.

Distribution Use of System Charges (DUoS): Use-of-system charges for Distribution connected generator customers.

Gen-wheeling: A reconciliation electricity tariff for local and non-local electricity customers...

Gen-offset: A reconciliation electricity tariff for non-local authority electricity customers...

Gen-purchase: A reconciliation electricity tariff for local and non-local electricity customers...

Electricity Distribution Information

Transformers
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Poles
  1. Look for the nearest Eskom pole to the property where you need electricity.
  2. Look at the pole, you will see that there is either a tag on which the pole number is displayed or the number will be printed directly onto the pole.
  3. This will be the number you require if requested.
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Meters
  • Prepaid
  • Billed / Conventional
  • Smart Meters
Prepaid
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Billed / Conventional
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Smart Meters
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Overhead Network - Visible Network

An overhead power line is a structure used to distribute energy over distances. It consists of one or more conductors (commonly multiples of three) suspended by towers or poles.

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Underground Network (not visible)

Areas which seem free of overhead lines (usually in high-density urban areas) are generally using underground cable networks for electrical distribution. A distribution system can also have a hybrid setup of overhead and underground lines to efficiently distribute the electricity.

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Links and Sites References


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How to use this tool