I never planned to disconnect from the grid until a recent policy shift changed everything.
City Power announced an obligatory conversion for certain prepaid and non-vending customers.
In simple terms, this means:
For someone already generating and storing their own power, this crossed a line.
Why pay more or at all for a service you’re not using?
So, I submitted a request to disconnect and was told the process would take 30 days.
Instead of a straightforward process, I’ve faced:
No clarity.
No ownership.
No progress.
And here’s the part no one wants to say out loud:
It appears they may be preparing to backdate charges before allowing disconnection.
I cannot confirm it – because no one will give a clear answer – but the pattern is familiar:
If true, this isn’t an admin issue – it’s a revenue tactic.
And it affects every Johannesburg homeowner considering energy independence.
This is why I’m sharing my journey in real time.
Not theory – lived experience.
And I’ll keep updating as the process unfolds.
Follow to stay informed — this chapter is far from over.
At the moment, there’s a noticeable trend in the issues I’m being called out for and often, it comes back to solar system design. More
The conversation I’m having with homeowners right now. One of the interesting things about being an electrician is that you start to notice patterns in
When I started sharing my off-grid journey, I never expected it to become quite so emotional or controversial. Right now, though, things feel like they’ve come to a standstill. I’ve done what I can, followed the processes, asked the questions, and pushed where it made sense to push. For the moment, all that’s left is to wait and see what the next move from City Power and the City of Johannesburg will be.
What non-vending customers need to know.
By now, I thought I’d be off the grid.
Instead, I’ve walked through the doors of City Power and the City of Johannesburg nine times.
I never planned to disconnect from the grid until a recent policy shift changed everything. City Power announced an obligatory conversion for certain prepaid and
South Africans often think “an inverter is an inverter.”
Not true.
Here are the three types – simply explained:
