The industry is well aware that the deadline by which privately owned office buildings have to display their Energy Performance Certificate (EPCs), is 7 December 2025.

After receiving complaints by members regarding the practical problems faced in obtaining EPCs, SAPOA again took up the matter with the Department of Electricity and Energy (DEE) and SANEDI (which oversees the EPC process) in April 2025.

The following concerns which were received from members were taken up with SANEDI and DEE:

  • Once details of a property have been inserted onto the system, it is extremely difficult to amend those details, e.g. if a mistake was made regarding the street address or property owner.
  • Lack of feedback on queries raised through the portal.
  • Difficulties experienced in having individuals registered as an EPC professional, as requisite experience is not taken into account.
  • The majority of the property industry, as previously advised, state the floor areas of their buildings in terms of Gross Lettable Area (“GLA”) and not in terms of Nett Floor Area (“NFA”), as required by applicable regulations. This has the result that costs are increased, as the buildings have to be remeasured to obtain NFA in accordance with SANS1544.
  • Uncertainty exists as to how buildings are treated which are linked by, e.g. a bridge or a supper basement. Are they to be dealt with as two separate buildings or as one building?
  • Where industrial properties are split into, e.g. factories and office areas, sometimes housed in separate buildings, with the office buildings using much less electricity, but with neither building being served by sub-meters, how is each building to be assessed for purposes of issuing of an EPC?
  • The exact calculation of the NFA in respect of cinemas remain unclear. Cinemas have large foyers which are common area, and an uncertainty exists as to whether these foyer areas are included in the NFA.
  • Whilst only office buildings require EPCs, there is much uncertainty regarding the status of offices housing medical specialists, which may include specialised equipment that use a lot of electricity, such as x-ray machines.

We have received the feedback from the DEE.
Members who wish to receive the update should kindly contact the SAPOA CEO at ngopal@sapoa.org.za
Members have been reminded of the looming deadline of 7 December 2025 (the 3yr extension granted to SAPOA members) and they have been urged to obtain their EPCs timeously.