Eskom Removes Over 700,000 Households from Load Reduction

According to Eskom, 714,513 customers have already been removed from load reduction schedules, representing over 42% of the households targeted under the initiative.

Eskom has announced that more than 700,000 households across South Africa are no longer affected by load reduction measures as the utility continues efforts to phase out the programme completely by 2027.

According to Eskom, 714,513 customers have already been removed from load reduction schedules, representing over 42% of the households targeted under the initiative. The utility has fully eliminated load reduction in the Northern Cape and Western Cape, marking a significant milestone in the programme. The initiative covers 971 electricity feeders and is expected to benefit approximately 1.69 million customers nationwide. Eskom said the strategy combines several interventions, including the installation of smart meters, the integration of distributed energy resources and the expansion of Free Basic Electricity support for qualifying households. Customer education campaigns are also being implemented to help residents better understand electricity usage and energy management.

Illegal Connections Continue to Challenge Progress

A key part of the programme involves the deployment of smart meters in areas where electricity losses are high due to illegal connections, meter tampering and infrastructure overload. Since the programme began, Eskom has installed around 1.6 million smart meters across the country. Of these, 295,462 have been deployed in load reduction feeder areas, accounting for roughly 18% of all installed units. The utility said the targeted rollout allows customers to monitor their electricity consumption more effectively while helping reduce pressure on the power grid.

Despite ongoing engagement efforts, Eskom acknowledged that implementation has faced several obstacles. The utility has worked with ward councillors, community leaders and local stakeholders through public meetings, radio discussions and social media campaigns to build support for the rollout. Eskom reported incidents involving intimidation, violence and repeated disruptions to field operations. These challenges have delayed more than 122,000 planned meter conversions and created additional safety concerns for employees and contractors working on the project. The utility warned that such disruptions slow down efforts to improve network stability and deliver long-term benefits to affected communities.

More Than a Year Without Load Shedding

Eskom also highlighted continued improvements in overall power system performance, reporting more than 385 consecutive days without load shedding. The utility said its financial year-to-date Energy Availability Factor has risen to 63.05%, compared with 57.67% during the same period last year. The increase reflects improved generation performance, fewer unplanned outages and greater reliability across power stations.

Eskom noted that current performance levels represent an improvement of nearly 10% compared with the corresponding period three years ago. The gains form part of the utility's broader turnaround strategy aimed at strengthening electricity supply and improving operational efficiency. To support demand during the evening peak period, Eskom said it will bring an additional 3,903 megawatts of generation capacity online, helping maintain system stability while meeting consumer demand.