South African utility Eskom says it is increasing its smart meter rollout in an attempt to reduce illegal connections to its electricity network.

At the same time, it has delivered sustained grid stability through improved generation performance and a reduction in diesel usage.

Eskom says it is delivering a stable and resilient power system, driven by clear, measurable improvements across its generation fleet that are translating into sustained operational gains.

Between 27 March and 2 April 2026, average unplanned outages were recorded at 9879MW, a notable improvement from the 14,067MW experienced during the same week last year, a reduction of 4,189MW, which is almost the size of Kusile Power Station. Unplanned outages were at 20.75%, down from 29.52% during the same period last year.

South Africa has achieved 322 consecutive days without an interruption in electricity supply and recorded 361 uninterrupted days, approximately 99% availability, during the 2025-26 financial year. Supply interruptions during the year were limited to just 26 hours across four days in April and May 2025, underscoring the strength and reliability of the power system.

Although the power system remains stable and generation capacity continues to exceed demand, illegal connections and meter tampering persist, causing infrastructure damage and posing safety risks. In response, Eskom is continuing to implement load reduction as a temporary measure in high-risk areas to protect communities and the electricity network.

To address this sustainably, Eskom has launched a phased programme to eliminate load reduction by 2027. The programme targets 971 feeders and will benefit approximately 1.69 million customers across all provinces, out of Eskom’s total customer base of 7.2 million. Interventions include the rollout of smart meters, the integration of distributed energy resources and the expansion of free basic electricity support. These measures will be accompanied by targeted customer education initiatives.

Over half a million smart meters (590,167) have now been deployed across the country as part of an ongoing infrastructure upgrade, with 250,181 of these units targeted at load reduction feeders. This 42% allocation to high-priority areas is essential for managing grid pressure while empowering users with real-time data and greater control over their energy usage.

Of the 250,181 smart meters installed on load reduction feeders, approximately 92% are concentrated in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu‑Natal, where network risk is highest.

Eskom is intensifying efforts on the phased programme to eliminate load reduction and ensure complete smart meter installation on load reduction feeders by 2027. Current implementation represents approximately 43% of the first phase target.

The rollout is deliberately focused on high-loss areas affected by illegal connections, meter bypassing, overloaded infrastructure and widespread electricity theft. Eskom has undertaken community and stakeholder engagement through ward councillors, public meetings, radio platforms and social media to support the implementation of the programme.

Despite these efforts, installation teams continue to face persistent resistance, including intimidation, violent incidents and repeated work stoppages. These disruptions have led to deployment delays, the redeployment of teams, and heightened safety risks for Eskom employees and contractors. As a result, approximately 122,000 planned meter conversions have been delayed to date, undermining the stability and predictability of the rollout programme.

Eskom (www.eskom.co.za) is calling on communities to report illegal connections, use electricity responsibly and protect infrastructure.