Eskom has successfully removed over one million customers from load reduction schedules in its efforts to eliminate the measure nationwide by 2027.
The power utility said that about 1.09 million customers, representing 65% of its target, are no longer affected by load reduction, with the programme now fully ended in five provinces.
In a statement, the utility said, “About 1,099,430 customers across South Africa are no longer impacted, representing about 65% of targeted households, with full elimination in five provinces.”
It was also revealed that 544 feeders have been removed from load reduction, representing more than half of the 971 feeders targeted under the programme.
Eskom said the rollout of smart meters, network upgrades and efforts to address illegal connections and electricity theft are key to ending load reduction.
“Eskom has deployed 1,861,180 smart meters nationwide. Of these, 472,100 have been installed on load reduction feeders, representing approximately 25% of installations in high-priority areas.”
Approximately 93% of these installations are concentrated in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal, where network pressure is highest.
“The rollout remains focused on high-loss areas impacted by illegal connections, infrastructure overloading and electricity theft.”
