Cape Town unveils cheaper meter to sell power back to the City

The City of Cape Town has unveiled a much cheaper electricity meter for residents to sell their excess solar power back to the City under the ‘Cash for Power’ programme. The new meter, for single-phase power users, is now available and is roughly 40% cheaper than the three-phase option. The new meter costs R6 043 including VAT, compared to R10 508 for the old meter. 

‘The City of Cape Town is now ready to roll out the long-awaited cheaper single-phase feed-in meter to enable many more Capetonians to sell their excess solar power to us. The team has successfully been able to procure, test and now launch this single-phase AMI meter for customers.

‘Residents can now place their meter orders, as well as sign up for our Cash for Power programme to earn cash back for the excess power they sell to the City. This in turn helps in our broader goal of ending load-shedding in Cape Town over time,’ said Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.

Cape Town is the first metro to buy excess solar PV power from small-scale generators in exchange for municipal bill credits and cash. Businesses and households have already earned over R30,8m, largely in municipal bill credits, since the start of the 2022/23 financial year until 1 April 2024.

A power seller’s total municipal bill is first credited automatically down to zero, with the option to apply to earn cash beyond a zero balance. Businesses have been able to earn cash for power since June 2023, with this option now open for households to also earn cash.

As at 1 April 2024, there are currently 1 537 sellers benefitting via their excess generation. Of these sellers, 910 are residential and 627 are commercial/industrial.

Previously, sellers could only be credited against their electricity bill up to a zero balance, but Cape Town’s key policy changes now enable the total municipal bill to be credited, as well as cash payouts beyond this. The City also recently launched a new online portal to make registering a solar PV system easier than ever.

‘The City will buy as much solar power as households and businesses can sell to us under the Cash for Power programme. Not only are we adding crucial kilowatts to our grid, we are also putting money back in the pockets of Capetonians,’ said Mayor Hill-Lewis.

How do customers get the new meter?

The process to apply for a new single phase AMI meter is automated if you have a SSEG application under way. If not, you can follow the Service Connection process to ask for a new meter.

To submit a SSEG application, visit the City’s web page titled Apply for SSEG.

Important considerations

·       The single-phase AMI meter is not applicable for three-phase customers

·       Customers are required to provide the necessary metering accommodations

·       In some cases, customers may need to adjust their electrical supply installation. For more information, see our electrical contractor guidelines here

·    Once the meter is installed, customers will be able to export their excess energy back to the grid and participate in the “Cash for Power” Initiative where they can obtain a municipal credit offset on their monthly bill.

How to apply to get Cash for Power

Customers with authorised grid-tied SSEG systems will automatically earn credits on their electricity and rates accounts by selling power back to the City.

If customers are interested to go above and beyond this to earn actual cash once their total municipal bill is credited down to zero, they can submit an application which will be assessed during the next window, with dates to be announced in due course.

Once a customer is registered, any remaining credit will accumulate until it reaches a certain amount and then the City will pay you out in cash.

For more information, visit: https://www.capetown.gov.za/cashforpower