Government and Eskom have unveiled a plan to eliminate load reduction within 12–18 months, describing it as an aggressive rollout of infrastructure and smart metering.
“We will end load reduction in 12 months if there is absolute cooperation by communities… but there are parts where we will get resistance,” Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa told reporters on Thursday. He warned of “agitation” from those benefiting from illegal connections and vandalism.
Currently, 1.69 million people on Eskom’s database are directly affected by load reduction, with more in municipalities like Johannesburg’s City Power. The practice, used in areas with overloaded networks, typically occurs in the mornings and evenings, when demand peaks.
Central to the roll-out is the installation of smart meters. Eskom has 600,000 meters in supply and is replacing 6.2 million old ones. Acting distribution head Agnes Mlambo said the project is undergoing an “internal investment process” and will later go to tender.
“Over R100 billion is owed to Eskom, growing by R2 billion a month. There is also a cost of not doing this…”
Neither Eskom nor the government provided cost estimates, but Ramokgopa said resources would come from Eskom’s balance sheet rather than new Treasury funding. “Over R100 billion is owed to Eskom, growing by R2 billion a month. There is also a cost of not doing this,” he said.
Cabinet is also reviewing the Integrated National Electrification Programme and plans to redirect part of its R4 billion annual budget. Government is reconsidering the free basic electricity framework, which currently provides 50kWh per month to indigent households, even though average low-income use is closer to 200kWh.
Ramokgopa said advances such as microgrids, solar PV, and battery storage could help reduce reliance on the grid. He added that once load reduction is addressed, the government will turn its focus to lowering electricity prices, starting with two renewable energy pilot projects in Musina.
Eliminating load reduction in provinces such as the Eastern Cape, Free State, Northern Cape, Western Cape, and North West is expected within the next 8–12 months, with other provinces following as the bulk of overloaded networks are upgraded.
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