Virtual Wheeling: A Game-Changer for Businesses on Municipal Power

For years, businesses connected to municipal electricity networks have faced a frustrating barrier: they couldn’t access clean, affordable energy from private producers because they weren’t directly connected to Eskom.

But that’s all changing.

Thanks to Eskom’s newly launched Virtual Wheeling framework, businesses of all sizes, even those behind a municipal meter, can now access wholesale renewable energy through providers like SOLA.

What is Virtual Wheeling?

Virtual wheeling is a mechanism that allows electricity generated from a renewable energy source, such as a solar farm located off-site – to be “virtually” delivered to a business through the national or municipal grid. 

Unlike traditional wheeling, which requires a direct line of energy transfer, virtual wheeling uses billing and energy metering systems to offset a business’s grid energy usage with renewable energy credits from a remote site. This enables businesses to support clean energy without needing to install solar panels on their own premises.

Through this process, businesses can now buy electricity from Independent Power Producers (IPPs), like SOLA, and get cash refunds from Eskom based on how much of that energy they consume. Businesses continue to receive and pay their normal municipal electricity bill. However now, Eskom will process a monthly refund, based on their usage, directly to the business.

It’s a way to participate in the energy market without needing to change your infrastructure or supply contracts — and it opens the door to real cost savings and carbon reductions. 

How It Works

• Your businesses signs up to for Virtual Wheeling Agreement with Eskom (Eskom Virtual Wheeling)
• SOLA generates renewable energy from our suite of solar projects and feeds it into the Eskom grid.
• Your business consumes power as usual via the municipal supply.
• Smart meters track how much power your business is using.
• Eskom processes a Wheeled Energy Refund — paid directly to your business

How can it help a business to “Go Green”?

Virtual wheeling gives qualifying businesses a practical and scalable way to reduce their carbon footprint and transition to renewable energy. By purchasing energy from a solar plant through virtual wheeling, businesses can ensure that the electricity they consume is matched with clean, solar-generated energy – even if it’s not produced onsite. 

This means companies can lower their reliance on fossil fuels, align with sustainability goals, and contribute to the broader clean energy transition without making major infrastructure changes.

Five Key Benefits of Virtual Wheeling for Your Business

• • • Save money – Access wholesale energy rates and get monthly refunds from Eskom.
    • Cut carbon emissions – Helps businesses meet ESG targets by sourcing clean, renewable energy.
    • No service disruptions – You stay with your current supplier (municipality), with no service interruptions
    • No infrastructure changes required – Businesses can go green without installing solar panels or altering existing electrical systems. Also quicker to implement than onsite solar projects, as energy is already being generated elsewhere.
    • No middlemen – You buy directly from SOLA — a trusted, vertically integrated IPP.
      

This is especially valuable for businesses with multiple sites or a distributed property portfolio — now, all of your locations can benefit, whether they’re on Eskom or municipal supply.

How to Get Started

Getting started with virtual wheeling is simple. If your business is ready to take a step toward cleaner, more reliable energy, visit our Buy Energy page. There, you can register your interest and one of our energy specialists will be in touch to guide you through the process. 

Whether you’re looking to reduce costs, meet sustainability goals, or future-proof your operations, our team is ready to help you make the switch to solar.