Even with load shedding now intermittent rather than scheduled, almost every Sandton and Midrand household we work in still wants reliable backup power for the next surprise stage 4 evening. Here's an honest 2026 breakdown of the four main options — what they cost installed, what they actually power, and how to choose the right one.
Option 1: Hybrid solar PV + battery system (best long-term)
A hybrid inverter with solar panels and lithium batteries gives you grid backup, lower electricity bills, and a system that pays itself back over 5–8 years. A typical 5kW / 5kWh system installed in Sandton runs R85,000–R130,000 depending on panel count and battery brand. A 8kW / 10kWh setup runs R150,000–R220,000.
Best for: Homes wanting to slash the Eskom bill and survive any stage of load shedding.
Option 2: Inverter + battery (no solar) — best mid-budget choice
A 5kW inverter with 5kWh of lithium and no solar panels is the fastest, cheapest way to keep fridges, Wi-Fi, lights and TVs running through 4–6 hours of load shedding. Installed cost: R55,000–R85,000 depending on battery brand (Hubble, FreedomWon, Pylontech, BYD).
Best for: Households who just want lights and Wi-Fi to stay on through outages and don't care about saving on electricity.
Option 3: Petrol/diesel generator with auto changeover
An 8kVA petrol generator with an automatic transfer switch (ATS) installed: R45,000–R75,000 including DB-board work and a Certificate of Compliance. Runs essentially the whole house but you'll pay R80–R150 in fuel for every 2–3 hours of outage.
Best for: Larger homes with electric stoves, pool pumps, boreholes and aircon that exceed what a 5kW inverter can handle.
Option 4: Trolley inverter / portable battery
R8,000–R25,000 plug-and-play units. Useful for a desk, Wi-Fi router and a few lights — not for a fridge or whole rooms. Fine as a stopgap; not a long-term answer.
How to size your system properly
Two numbers matter: kW (instantaneous power — can it run the kettle and microwave at the same time?) and kWh (energy storage — how long will it last?). We do a load-audit visit free of charge: we check every breaker on your DB board, ask which circuits you actually need backed up (typically lights, plugs, Wi-Fi, fridge — not geyser or aircon), and quote accordingly.
Non-negotiables for any install
- Electrical Certificate of Compliance issued on completion (legally required, your insurer needs it)
- Type-2 surge arrestor on the DB board
- AC isolator and battery DC isolator within reach
- Battery in a ventilated, dry, fire-safe location (not a habitable bedroom)
- 5-year inverter warranty, minimum 10-year battery warranty
- Solar panels with structural roof assessment (not just bolted on hope)
The 2026 reality check
Beware of WhatsApp installers offering R30,000 "complete" 5kW systems. They almost always cut corners on cable sizing, surge protection, earth bonding or COC paperwork. When something fails (or your insurer rejects a fire claim), the cost is many times the saving.
We've installed dozens of compliant hybrid systems across Sandton, Midrand, Fourways and Bryanston. To book a free load-audit and quote, phone 082 886 9119 or contact our team.