“It Looks Neat”: SA Homeowner Switches to R69,900 Solar System to Escape Load-Shedding

• Setlhare Energy delivered and handed over a 5kW solar power system to a South African homeowner on 22 September 2026
• The complete solar setup, priced at R69,900, includes six solar panels, a lithium battery and a Growatt inverter
• The technician walked the homeowner through how to monitor and manage the system as electricity costs in SA keep climbing

A South African solar company gave a homeowner a full walkthrough of his brand-new solar power system in a video that struck a chord with people tired of rising electricity bills.

Setlhare Energy posted the installation and handover video on Instagram on 22 September 2026, showing a technician guiding a client through every component of his newly installed system inside his home.

What the R69,900 solar system includes

The setup, priced at R69,900, consists of six 550-watt solar panels delivering 3.3kWp of capacity, a 5kWh Dyness lithium battery and a 5kW Growatt inverter. The technician explained that while the battery holds 5kWh, only 4kWh can be drawn down during use, as lithium batteries require a reserve to maintain performance. At a household consumption of around 550 watts, that translates to roughly eight hours of backup power on a full charge.

Read also

"Be proud of what you've built": Before-and-after shack makeover for mum impresses Mzansi

The system covers the home's lights and plug points, though the stove and geyser were handled separately. The technician also pointed out that the setup has room to grow, with the option to add another inverter, a second battery, and more panels down the line.

Sbu was shown how to use a monitoring app that displays real-time data including solar generation, battery percentage and how much power the house is drawing.

"Everything is automatic," the technician told him. "You don't touch anything here."

Why South Africans are switching to solar

The timing of the video resonated with many South Africans navigating relentless electricity price increases. Municipal electricity tariffs rose by an average of 9.01% on 1 July 2026, and since 2007, Eskom tariffs have increased six times faster than inflation. A typical suburban household now pays upwards of R2,800 per month on electricity.

According to Statistics South Africa data, 675,000 households have already made the switch to solar, an 86% jump in adoption over just three years. South Africa's total rooftop solar capacity has surpassed 8.3GW, overtaking the combined output of all government-contracted renewable energy programmes.

Read also

"Organic transportation": Mzansi defends SA's movable homes in viral SA vs USA video

Over time, a privately owned solar system works out to roughly R1.20 to R1.70 per kWh, compared to R2.00 to R4.50 per kWh from the grid. Most systems pay for themselves within three to six years.

At the end of the handover, the client gave his verdict on the installation:

"It looks nice. Looks neat. Yeah..."

Watch the full system handover on Setlhare Energy's Instagram reel here.

More on solar power in South Africa

• Briefly News recently reported on how Eskom softened its rooftop solar rules ahead of the deadline, but kept one threat on the table.
• Tshwane homeowners with prepaid meters could face fines of up to R75,000 if their meters are found to have been tampered with.
• Solar owners across SA could pay up to R36,000 if they miss the 30 September registration deadline.

Source: Briefly News