Cape Town BI-Directional AMI Smart Meter Installation and SSEG Sign-Off Guide

Key Takeaways

• All Small-Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) systems in Cape Town, including battery-only systems, must be authorised by the City.
• A bi-directional Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) smart meter is required for systems that feed electricity back into the grid, installed at your expense.
• The SSEG application process is completed online via the City's e-Services platform and requires professional sign-off by an ECSA-registered professional.
• Unauthorised systems pose significant safety risks, legal liabilities for the property owner, and can result in contravention notices and disconnection.

Understanding Cape Town's Bi-Directional AMI Smart Metering for SSEG

The City of Cape Town requires specific metering for properties with Small-Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) systems, particularly those that export surplus electricity to the municipal grid. This involves the installation of a bi-directional Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) smart meter. This meter accurately measures electricity flow in both directions: from the grid to your property for consumption and from your property back to the grid when you generate more than you use.

This metering is crucial for the City's "Cash for Power" programme, allowing residents and businesses to be credited for the electricity they feed into the network. For systems designed not to export, known as "grid-tied non-feed-in PV", reverse power flow blocking is required to prevent any excess electricity from entering the grid.

The SSEG Authorisation Process in Cape Town

Authorising your SSEG system with the City of Cape Town is a mandatory process that ensures safety, grid stability, and compliance with local regulations. The entire application is submitted online via the City's e-Services platform, designed to make authorisation faster and more transparent.

Eligibility and System Types

The authorisation process applies to SSEG systems with a generation capacity smaller than 1 mega-volt ampere (MVA) and Embedded Generation (EG) systems with a generation capacity of more than 1 MVA and less than 100 MVA within the City of Cape Town electricity supply area. Systems larger than 100 MVA require proof of registration from the National Energy Regulator (NERSA) before the City can consider authorisation.

Since 1 October 2023, the City only authorises grid-tied and grid-tied hybrid systems. Applications for standby and off-grid systems are no longer accepted due to the risks they pose to the network. This means that even battery-only systems, if wired to the distribution board, require a grid-tied battery-only SSEG application. Similarly, portable inverters with fixed mounted PV panels wired to the distribution board require a grid-tied hybrid SSEG application.

Step-by-Step Application Procedure

The SSEG application process follows a structured path:

1. Service Provider Registration: Electrical contractors and ECSA-registered professionals must complete the Service Provider Registration form before the SSEG application can be completed. Property owners can grant proxy authorisation to their installer to apply on their behalf.
2. Online Application Submission: You submit your SSEG application online via e-Services.
3. Permission to Install (PTI): Once your application is submitted, a PTI letter will be emailed to you and available for download. This grants you permission to proceed with the installation.
4. System Installation: Install your system using City-approved inverters. A list of approved inverters is available on the City's website.
5. Commissioning Documentation: After installation, upload your Certificate of Compliance (CoC) and a signed Supplemental Contract. An ECSA-registered professional must then log in and sign off the commissioning report.
6. Commissioning Letter: Upon successful commissioning, a Commissioning Letter will be emailed and available for download. You can then switch your system on.

Solar PV geysers also require authorisation via the online SSEG application process, but they do not require ECSA professional sign-off. They must use approved switches and have a valid CoC.

Costs and Tariffs for Exporting Surplus Power

Installing an SSEG system that feeds into the grid involves specific costs and offers opportunities to earn credit for surplus electricity.

Meter Installation and Related Fees

The City of Cape Town installs the necessary bi-directional meter at your expense. You are also required to install the metering accommodation for this meter on the street-front property boundary. For commercial customers applying to feed into the grid, an additional AMI Access fee may be applicable, with the exact cost quoted during the authorisation process. There is no charge to register EG systems; a fee will only be applied if you fail to register your system.

Feed-in Tariffs and Cash for Power

The City's "Cash for Power" programme allows you to receive credit for surplus electricity fed into the grid:

• Residential SSEG Feed-in Tariff: Electricity fed into the grid will be measured and credited to your monthly municipal account at 92.13c/kWh plus a 25c/kWh incentive.
• Commercial SSEG Feed-in Tariff: Commercial customers receive 82.06c/kWh plus a 25c/kWh incentive.

For customers with remaining credit after offsetting their consumption, cash payouts are available:

• Residential Cash for Power Payout Threshold: Payments are made annually once the credit amount exceeds R1000.
• Commercial Cash for Power Payout Threshold: Payments are made monthly once the credit amount exceeds R5000.

What You Can Change Yourself, and What You Cannot

As a property owner, you are responsible for initiating the SSEG application process and ensuring all required documentation is submitted. This includes applying online, providing necessary details, and ensuring your chosen installer is registered and uses approved equipment. You are also responsible for the safety of the electrical installation on your property, as stated by the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

However, the physical installation, wiring, and commissioning of any grid-tied SSEG system, including the connection of the bi-directional meter, must be performed by qualified and registered professionals. An ECSA-registered professional must sign off the commissioning report, and a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) is required for the installation. Modifying grid-protection settings or working on live AC tails without proper authorisation and qualifications is illegal and extremely dangerous. Any work that affects the grid connection or involves high-voltage components requires a registered person and a valid CoC.

Risks of Unauthorised Systems

Installing an SSEG system without proper authorisation from the City of Cape Town carries significant risks and legal consequences. The City legally requires registration in terms of the City of Cape Town Electricity Supply By-Law, 2010, to ensure the safety of anyone who comes into contact with the PV system or the grid itself.

Unauthorised systems pose an increased risk of fire and electric shock to the household. They can also endanger City personnel working on the electricity network if electricity feeds into a grid that is believed to be off, potentially leading to electrocution. Property owners with unauthorised systems may face legal recourse under Occupational Health and Safety laws and could receive a contravention notice, service fee, and instruction to disconnect their system. Furthermore, poorly installed systems can cause household fires, and insurers may not cover damages if the installation is not authorised. Even battery-only systems, if wired directly into the distribution board as grid-tied, can negatively impact the low voltage network, causing local area trips and extended power outages if not properly registered and managed.

What the Published Sources Do Not Tell You

While the City of Cape Town's documentation provides a clear framework for SSEG authorisation and outlines the costs associated with bi-directional metering, certain specific details are not publicly available in the provided sources. The exact costs for meter conversion and replacement are not specified; it is stated that the City installs the meter "at your own expense" and that an "AMI Access fee may be applicable" for commercial customers, with the cost quoted during the authorisation process. However, a detailed breakdown or typical figures for these fees are not provided.

Similarly, information regarding daily network service fees was not found in the available documents. The documents also do not provide detailed technical specifications for the AMI meters themselves, nor do they list specific error or fault codes for inverters or meters. Finally, detailed settings or pairing protocols for inverters or batteries are not included, as these are typically manufacturer-specific.