When a summer storm builds, most of us think about the lightning outside. But for a modern homeowner, an equally important question is what that storm could mean for the electrical and electronic systems inside the house.
Your television and computer are only part of the picture. Modern homes may contain electronic gate motors, alarm systems, CCTV, routers, smart appliances, pool equipment, inverters, battery systems, solar installations and increasingly sophisticated electronic controls.
The more technology we add to our homes, the more value we potentially expose to electrical events.
That does not mean homeowners need to become electricians. Good risk management starts with understanding the risk well enough to ask the right questions, knowing what protection is already in place, and using appropriately qualified and registered people where technical work is required.
Lightning damage and power surge damage are related — but they are not the same thing
Lightning can cause a power surge, but not every power surge is caused by lightning.
A direct lightning strike can cause substantial physical and electrical damage. It may affect a structure, electrical installation, electronic systems and other conductive components associated with the property.
But lightning does not need to hit your roof directly to cause electrical damage.
A nearby lightning event can introduce a very large transient overvoltage into electrical or other conductive systems. That energy can enter through electrical supply infrastructure or other connected services and affect equipment inside a building.
A power surge, on the other hand, is essentially a short-duration increase in electrical voltage.
Lightning is one possible cause. It is not the only one.
Eskom identifies several other sources of voltage surges, including the switching of high-powered equipment, network disturbances, faulty wiring, utility equipment problems and interruptions and restoration of electrical supply.
This distinction matters because homeowners sometimes look outside after a storm, see no evidence that lightning struck their building and conclude that electrical damage could not have been related to the storm.
That is not necessarily the case.
What is vulnerable inside a modern home?
With a direct lightning strike, the risk extends beyond appliances.
Depending on the circumstances, the structure itself, roofing and conductive elements, antennas, the electrical installation and systems entering or leaving the building may all form part of the exposure.
When we look specifically at power surges and transient overvoltages, electronic equipment becomes particularly important.
Obvious examples include:
- televisions;
- computers and monitors;
- routers and networking equipment;
- CCTV systems;
- alarms;
- electric gate and garage-door equipment;
- audio equipment;
- smart-home systems;
- pool and borehole control equipment;
- electronic components inside modern household appliances;
- inverters and battery-management equipment; and
- solar PV and other alternative-energy equipment.
Modern appliances are increasingly electronically controlled. A washing machine is no longer simply a motor, timer and switch. Refrigerators, air conditioners, ovens, washing machines and other household equipment can contain sensitive control boards and electronics.
That changes the homeowner’s risk profile.
It is also worth remembering that electricity is not the only pathway into a piece of electronic equipment. Data, communications, antenna and other conductive connections may also need to be considered when designing a comprehensive protection strategy.
Myth: one surge protector makes the house “lightning-proof”
There is no single magic box that makes a house immune to lightning or power surges.
This is one of the most important principles for homeowners to understand.
External lightning protection, earthing and bonding, surge protective devices, protection at individual pieces of sensitive equipment and protection of data or communications systems perform different functions.
They should not automatically be treated as interchangeable solutions.
International lightning-protection standards approach the subject in much the same way: protecting a structure from physical lightning damage and protecting electrical and electronic systems inside that structure are related, but distinct, parts of the overall risk.
Even a well-designed protection system cannot create a guarantee that lightning will never cause damage.
Lightning is a powerful natural phenomenon.
The purpose of risk management is therefore not to promise that every possible loss can be prevented. The objective is to identify the exposure and reduce both the likelihood and potential severity of damage as far as reasonably practicable.
Think in layers of protection
A better way to approach lightning and surge risk is to think in terms of layers.
Depending on the property and its risk profile, these may include:
- appropriate earthing and bonding;
- surge protective devices at the electrical distribution board;
- additional protection closer to sensitive equipment;
- protection for relevant data, communication or antenna systems;
- a properly designed external lightning protection system where the risk justifies one;
- suitable protection for inverter, solar PV and alternative-energy equipment; and
- correct installation, inspection and maintenance of the electrical system as a whole.
Not every property requires exactly the same solution.
A freestanding house on an exposed site, a townhouse in a dense complex, a rural property with long incoming services and a property containing extensive electronic or solar equipment may present very different exposures.
That is why the starting point should be assessment, rather than buying a product because the packaging says “surge protection”.
Is the red surge-protector plug enough?
A plug-in surge protector can be useful.
It is not the same thing as surge protection installed as part of the fixed electrical installation at the distribution board.
A properly selected surge protective device, or SPD, installed at the DB forms part of the broader electrical installation and can provide protection across circuits supplied from that board, subject to its design, type and installation.
A plug-in device operates much closer to the individual equipment connected to it.
This can make the two approaches complementary rather than interchangeable.
In simple terms:
The protection at the DB and the protection at the appliance do different jobs. One should not automatically be assumed to replace the other.
There is another important qualification.
Simply having an SPD in the DB does not automatically mean the installation has been properly protected. The device must be appropriate for the application and correctly installed and coordinated with the rest of the electrical system.
The condition of the device matters too. Some surge protection devices contain replaceable modules or indicators showing whether the protection remains operational after surge events.
This is why electrical surge protection should be treated as part of the electrical installation rather than as a DIY accessory.
South African low-voltage electrical installations are governed by SANS 10142-1. A 2026 revision of the standard, SANS 10142-1:2026 Edition 3.03, was made available during 2026.
What about a UPS?
An Uninterruptible Power Supply can play an important role where equipment needs to continue operating during a power interruption.
Some UPS equipment may also offer a degree of surge protection.
But a UPS should not automatically be treated as a substitute for properly designed surge protection for the electrical installation.
The purpose, specifications and protection capabilities of the particular UPS need to be understood.
The same principle applies to an inverter. Having an inverter installed does not, by itself, mean that the house is comprehensively protected against electrical surges.
Always look at the system as a whole.
Should you unplug equipment during a storm?
If severe weather is approaching and it is practical to do so, sensitive equipment that does not need to remain connected can be unplugged before the storm reaches you.
Eskom specifically notes unplugging equipment as an important means of protecting equipment from severe lightning-related surges.
The timing matters.
Do not wait until lightning is already striking nearby and then start handling plugs, cables and electrical equipment unnecessarily.
During an active thunderstorm, personal safety takes priority over trying to save a television or computer.
No appliance is worth exposing yourself to an avoidable electrical or lightning risk.
Does your insurer require surge protection?
There is no single answer that applies to every insurer or every policy.
This is where homeowners need to be careful about generalisations.
Insurance products can differ in:
- whether power surge damage is automatically covered;
- whether it is optional;
- the limit applicable to surge claims;
- the excess or deductible;
- requirements for surge protection;
- requirements for proof of installation; and
- conditions relating to the electrical installation.
Current South African policy information illustrates these differences.
Some insurers include specified power-surge cover within particular plans or allow clients to buy additional limits. Others may apply specific surge-related excesses.
Hollard, for example, has published surge-protection guidelines under which qualifying protection installed in the main distribution board can affect the cover limit and excess applicable under the relevant product. The requirements include technical specifications and proof of compliant installation.
Discovery’s current household insurance information also differentiates between the levels of power-surge cover available on different plans.
Miway’s current information similarly demonstrates why policyholders need to check the exact cover they selected, including the applicable excess.
The lesson is not that one insurer’s requirement applies universally.
The lesson is the opposite:
Your own policy wording and schedule matter.
Before you have a claim, ask your broker or insurer three questions:
- Is lightning and power-surge damage covered under my policy?
- What limit and excess apply?
- Does my policy impose any specific surge-protection, installation or proof requirements?
Do not wait until claim stage to discover the answers.
Your electrical Certificate of Compliance matters too
Surge protection is only one part of the bigger electrical-risk picture.
South African homeowners should also understand the role of the electrical Certificate of Compliance, commonly referred to as the electrical CoC.
The Electrical Installation Regulations, 2009 require, subject to limited exceptions, the user or lessor of an electrical installation to have a valid Certificate of Compliance for that installation.
The CoC must also be accompanied by the prescribed test report.
A CoC is therefore much more than a document that appears when you sell a house.
It records that the relevant electrical installation has been inspected and tested and that the appropriately Registered Person issuing the certificate is satisfied that the installation covered by that certification complies with the applicable requirements.
However, there is an important limit to what a CoC means.
A CoC does not guarantee that nothing can ever fail in future.
It is not an insurance policy, a maintenance plan or a lifetime warranty on every electrical component.
It certifies the installation within the scope covered at the time of certification.
When do you need a new or supplementary CoC?
This is one of the areas where homeowners frequently become confused.
If an electrical installation already has a CoC and an addition or alteration is subsequently made, the Electrical Installation Regulations require a CoC to be obtained for at least that addition or alteration.
That means an electrical certificate should not simply be filed away for twenty years while the electrical installation changes around it.
Consider what may have changed since your original certificate was issued.
Perhaps the property has since received:
- new circuits;
- a replacement or substantially altered DB;
- an inverter installation;
- a battery system;
- solar PV;
- additional outbuildings;
- new pumps or fixed equipment; or
- other changes to the fixed electrical installation.
The practical question is therefore not simply:
“Do I have a CoC?”
It is:
“Do the CoCs I have actually cover the electrical installation that exists at my property today?”
This has become particularly relevant as South African households have rapidly adopted inverters, batteries and solar PV.
Industry training certificates relating to solar can be useful evidence of additional knowledge or participation in industry programmes, but they do not replace the statutory registrations required under the Electrical Installation Regulations.
Does an electrical CoC expire every two years?
No.
This is a persistent misconception.
There is no general rule requiring a homeowner to renew an electrical CoC every two years simply because two years have passed.
The two-year rule applies specifically in the context of a change of ownership.
Regulation 7(5) provides that a user or lessor may not allow a change of ownership if the Certificate of Compliance is older than two years.
In other words, the phrase “a CoC is valid for two years” is an oversimplification and can be misleading.
The Electrical Contractors’ Association of South Africa explains that a CoC remains valid for the installation for which it was issued, provided that installation has not subsequently been altered. Additions and alterations require supplementary certification.
For an existing homeowner, the more useful question is again whether the installation has changed since the certificate was issued.
Not every electrician may issue your CoC
Another important distinction is often missed.
Not everyone who performs electrical work is automatically authorised to inspect, test and issue a Certificate of Compliance for every type of installation.
The Electrical Installation Regulations use the specific term Registered Person.
The statutory categories are:
- Electrical Tester for Single Phase;
- Installation Electrician; and
- Master Installation Electrician.
The scope within which a person may verify and certify an installation depends on the category of registration.
The regulations state that only a Registered Person may issue a Certificate of Compliance.
There is also a regulatory distinction between an electrical contractor and the Registered Person responsible for verification and certification. In practice one individual may sometimes fulfil both roles, but they are not simply interchangeable terms.
The important lesson for a homeowner is straightforward:
Do not rely only on someone describing themselves as an electrician. Confirm that the person responsible for inspecting, testing and certifying your installation holds the appropriate statutory registration.
Can you ask to see the Registered Person’s credentials?
Yes.
The Electrical Installation Regulations specifically provide that a Registered Person must, on request, produce their Certificate of Registration to an inspector, approved inspection authority, supplier, or a person to whom they intend issuing a Certificate of Compliance.
So it is entirely reasonable to say:
“Please show me your Certificate of Registration and registration number.”
The Department of Employment and Labour maintains Registered Persons on its national database.
Where there is uncertainty, registration should be verified with the Department. If the contractor is an ECA(SA) member, the ECA also advises that its regional offices can assist with verification of member registration.
The Department has previously warned the public about unregistered operators and non-compliant certification practices.
A logo, invoice, training certificate or impressive-looking stamp should not be treated as a substitute for the required statutory registration.
A homeowner’s practical action plan
There are two worthwhile checks you can make before the next storm.
1. Check your electrical installation and its paperwork
Find your electrical CoC and any supplementary certificates.
Check:
- who issued them;
- when they were issued;
- what part of the installation they cover; and
- whether additions or alterations have been made since then.
If you are unsure, ask an appropriately Registered Person to assess the position.
While doing so, ask whether the property’s surge-protection measures are appropriate for the installation and risk.
Do not assume the installation is safe simply because everything appears to be working.
2. Check your insurance before you need it
Speak to your broker or insurer and ask:
- Is lightning damage covered?
- Is power-surge damage covered?
- What limits apply?
- What excess will I pay?
- Does the policy require a particular type of surge protection?
- What evidence will the insurer expect if I claim?
A five-minute conversation now can prevent a much more difficult conversation after a loss.
The Black Sable Risk view
Good risk management does not mean every loss can be prevented.
It means identifying vulnerabilities early, understanding how different protection measures work together, maintaining the right records and knowing who to involve when specialist advice is required.
Lightning and power surges are a good example.
Do not assume your property is adequately protected because the lights work.
Do not assume one surge-protector plug protects an entire house.
Do not assume an inverter provides all the surge protection you need.
Do not assume an old CoC necessarily covers everything that has subsequently been added to the property.
And do not assume your insurance will respond exactly as you expect without first checking the policy.
Know what you have. Know what it protects. Know what your CoC covers. And know what your insurer requires.
Listen to the Radio Laeveld discussion
Hear Gee-J Wentzel of Black Sable Risk discuss practical property risk management on Radio Laeveld.
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Important notice
This article is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not electrical, engineering, insurance or legal advice.
Electrical installations and property circumstances differ. Electrical work, inspection and certification should be undertaken by appropriately registered and competent persons acting within the scope of their registration.
Insurance products, limits, exclusions, excesses and conditions differ between insurers and policies. Always refer to your own policy wording and schedule and discuss your particular circumstances with your broker or insurer.
Standards and regulatory requirements may also change. The information above was reviewed on 21 October 2026.
References and Further Reading
1. Department of Employment and Labour — Electrical Installation Regulations, 2009 The principal regulatory source covering Certificates of Compliance, additions and alterations, change of ownership and Registered Persons. Electrical Installation Regulations, 2009
2. South African Government / Department of Employment and Labour — Notice on electrical installation laws and CoC requirements, October 2025 Current public guidance on homeowner, contractor and CoC responsibilities. CoC compliance notice for homeowners and electrical contractors
3. Electrical Contractors’ Association of South Africa — How long is an electrical CoC valid? Practical explanation of the two-year property-transfer rule and supplementary CoCs after alterations. How long is an Electrical Certificate of Compliance valid?
4. ECA(SA) — Solar PV installations: industry certificates do not replace statutory registration Useful clarification of the difference between industry credentials, registered electrical contractors and Registered Persons. Solar PV installations and statutory registration
5. ECA(SA) — Availability of SANS 10142-1:2026 Edition 3.03 Confirmation of the current 2026 revision of South Africa’s low-voltage wiring standard. SANS 10142-1:2026 Edition 3.03 notice
6. Eskom — Power Surge Protection Fact Sheet South African guidance on common causes of power surges and measures used to reduce equipment exposure. Eskom Power Surge Protection Fact Sheet
7. International Electrotechnical Commission — IEC 62305-4:2024 International standard dealing with lightning-related protection of electrical and electronic systems within structures. IEC 62305-4:2024 — Protection against lightning
8. IEC — IEC 62305 Series: Protection Against Lightning The broader international framework covering general principles, risk management, physical damage and internal electronic systems. IEC 62305 Protection Against Lightning series
9. Hollard — Power Surge Protection Guidelines An example of how an insurer may impose product-specific surge-arrester, proof and excess requirements. Policyholders must still check their own current wording and schedule. Hollard Power Surge Protection Guidelines
10. Discovery Insure — Household Contents Insurance Current example showing that power-surge cover and limits can differ by insurance plan. Discovery household contents and power-surge cover
11. Miway — Insurance FAQs Current example illustrating product-specific lightning and power-surge cover and excess considerations. Miway insurance FAQs
12. Black Sable Risk — Property Risk Briefs & Radio Archive Black Sable Risk’s archive of property-risk information and Radio Laeveld discussions. Black Sable Risk Insights and Radio Archive