Loadshedding. Escalating electricity prices. The dream of living off the grid. It’s no surprise that solar power is a fast-growing home trend.

As of early 2025, around 600,000 homes (that’s 3.5% of South African households) are powered, at least partly, by the sun. And, with installations costing anywhere from R70,000 for a basic system to nearly R400,000 for a fully off-grid set-up, this is no small investment.

“You wouldn’t dream of leaving your car uninsured. The cost of potential repairs, replacements, and third party liability if you accidentally cause damage to someone else’s property, is just too high,” says Wynand van Vuuren, client experience partner at King Price Insurance. “For the same reasons, it’s critical to insure your solar system. Step one, though, is to make sure it’s installed properly.”

And this is where things can get messy: When a solar installation is done badly, it’s not just a wiring issue. It can become a very real risk to your home and your safety.

A solar set-up that looks neat and tidy from the outside can hide all kinds of problems if it hasn’t been installed by a qualified professional. King Price has seen everything from cracked roof tiles and structural damage to water leaks caused by poor mounting, to fires from dodgy wiring.

A poor installation can void the manufacturer’s warranty as well as your insurance. You could be stuck replacing panels, inverters, batteries, and even your home or car if they’re damaged as a result of your system going wrong… All out of your own pocket.

Here’s the good news: If your solar system has been installed by a certified electrician who issues a valid certificate of compliance (CoC), and you’ve insured your installation correctly, you’re most likely covered for theft, weather damage, power surges and more.

“We pay out all valid claims for solar system loss and damage,” says Van Vuuren. “But we can’t stress this enough: If your set-up isn’t compliant with your insurer’s requirements, and you don’t have a CoC, your claim may be rejected.”

Another important point to remember is that a solar system adds to the value of your home. So, when you install one, it’s not just about making sure the system itself is covered; it’s also about updating your building’s insured value.

Solar installations are an investment, and the temptation to go with the guy who promises to ‘hook you up’ for half the price is real. But you may not be getting a bargain. You could be risking the structural soundness of your home and the safety of your family and also leaving yourself exposed to financial risk down the line.

“Installing solar panels is one of the smartest things you can do in South Africa right now,” says Van Vuuren. “But, like all smart decisions, it pays to do it properly. Make sure your installer is legitimate. Make sure your system is compliant. And make sure your insurance is in place.”

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