Load reduction still hits 193 556 Eskom customers. When it ends
About 193 556 Eskom customers, mostly in parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, still face load reduction. Eskom wants it gone by March 2027, but Gauteng has cleared only 41.5% of its feeders.
Eskom still cuts power to about 193 556 customers under load reduction, and nearly all of them are in parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. That is down from roughly 1.69 million customers, an 88.6% drop, according to Eskom's power system update of 23 October 2026. The utility's target is to end load reduction completely by March 2027.
The 193 556 still affected make up about 2.7% of Eskom's 7.2 million customers, Eskom says.
Is load reduction the same as load-shedding?
No. Load-shedding happens when the country does not have enough electricity. Eskom says South Africa has gone 525 consecutive days without load-shedding since 16 May 2025, and it currently has 4 961MW of capacity above demand.
Load reduction is a targeted cut in specific areas. Eskom says it uses it as a temporary measure in high-risk areas where illegal connections and meter tampering overload and damage the network, to protect both the equipment and the people living nearby.
Which provinces are still affected?
Only Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Limpopo, Mpumalanga, the Eastern Cape, the Western Cape, the Free State, North West and the Northern Cape are fully off load reduction.
Eskom tracks progress by feeder, the power line that supplies a group of streets or a suburb. It has removed 600 of its 971 targeted feeders (62%). By region, Eskom's figures are:
- Gauteng: 258 of 604 feeders (41.5%)
- KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State: 150 of 193 feeders (77.7%), with the Free State fully cleared
- Limpopo and Mpumalanga: 163 feeders, above the target of 150
- Eastern and Western Cape: 14 of 14 feeders
- North West and Northern Cape: 15 feeders, above the target of 9
Gauteng has the most work left. About 502 277 customers there have already been restored to normal supply.
When will load reduction end?
Eskom's deadline is March 2027. Its plan relies on smart meters, local generation and storage on the network (which Eskom calls distributed energy resources) and more households registered for Free Basic Electricity.
So far, 524 375 smart meters have gone in on load reduction feeders, about 91% of the 577 347 planned for high-priority areas. Eskom says resistance in some communities, including intimidation, safety incidents and work stoppages, has delayed more than 122 000 planned installations.
Is my outage load reduction or planned maintenance?
It may be neither. Eskom also switches areas off for scheduled maintenance. In Ekurhuleni, for example, parts of Tsakane extensions 5A, 5B, 5C and 11 will be without power from 09:00 to 18:00 on Thursday, 29 October, and again from 09:00 to 18:00 on Friday, 30 October, Eskom told The South African. Eskom asks customers to treat all appliances as live during any outage.
If you are unsure why your power is off, Eskom's customer service line is 086 00 37566.
How do I report illegal connections?
Eskom asks residents to report illegal connections and damaged infrastructure to its Crime Line on 0800 112 722 or on WhatsApp at 081 333 3323.
Eskom publishes a power system update every Friday evening. The next one is due on Friday, 30 October 2026.
FAQ
How many Eskom customers are still affected by load reduction?
About 193 556 customers, or roughly 2.7% of Eskom's customer base, according to Eskom's update of 23 October 2026. That is down from about 1.69 million.
Which provinces still have load reduction?
Only selected areas in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Eskom says the other seven provinces are fully off load reduction.
When will Eskom end load reduction?
Eskom's target is March 2027. It is installing smart meters, adding local generation and storage, and registering more households for Free Basic Electricity.
What is the difference between load reduction and load-shedding?
Load-shedding is a national cut when there is not enough power. Load reduction is a targeted cut in areas where Eskom says illegal connections and meter tampering overload the network.
How do I report an illegal electricity connection?
Call the Eskom Crime Line on 0800 112 722 or send a WhatsApp to 081 333 3323.