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Electricity and Energy Minister, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, says the days of load reduction are nearing an end, with new measures in place to completely phase it out.<\/p>\n
Ramokgopa made the announcement on Thursday, noting a significant improvement in the country’s generation capacity, which has risen from 48% in 2023 to 70% this year.<\/p>\n
This marks the first time Eskom’s fleet has sustainably surpassed the 70% energy availability target since it was introduced by the board as part of its turnaround plan.<\/p>\n
The minister acknowledged that load reduction gives the appearance of income discrimination, as it mainly affects poorer communities, creating the impression that government is penalising the vulnerable.<\/p>\n\t
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\t\tplay_arrow<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\n\t\t\tElectricity Minister vows to end load reduction<\/span>\n\t\t\t| By X9 Converter<\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/li>\n\t\t<\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\t\t\t\n\t\n While promising an end to blackouts in about a year, Ramokgopa also addressed the financial strain on consumers.<\/p>\n He noted that electricity prices have surged by 937% between 2007 and last year\u2014compared to just 155% for inflation\u2014placing an enormous financial burden on all South Africans, regardless of income.<\/p>\n Eskom\u2019s Acting Group Executive for Distribution, Agnes Mlambo, highlighted how this has created a widening gap between the price of electricity and the value of tokens.<\/p>\n\t \n\t\t\tElectricity Minister vows to end load reduction<\/span>\n\t\t\tNonhlanhla Harris<\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/li>\n\t\t<\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\t\t\t\n\t\n <\/p>\n Load reduction has eased in 2025, averaging 529 megawatts during winter peaks\u2014down from 544 megawatts in April\u2014mostly in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and Gauteng.<\/p>\n Eskom aims to reduce this by at least 15\u201320% by March 2026 and eliminate it completely within the next two years.<\/p>\n The utility\u2019s improved performance is also expected to boost its financials this year, thanks to major diesel savings and the impact of higher tariffs.<\/p>\n Additionally, Ramokgopa revealed that over 700 of Eskom\u2019s transformers are failing, largely due to illegal connections. This affects 1.6 million customers\u2014or 8.5 million people when factoring in family members.<\/p>\n The minister outlined a plan to refurbish and maintain critical infrastructure to address the crisis.<\/p>\n Although rolling blackouts remain suspended, several areas continue to experience persistent power cuts.<\/p>\n \u201cToday I announced our bold, ambitious and yet practical Implementation Plan to end load-reduction affecting over 1.69 million customers across the length and breadth of our country.<\/p>\n There should be no single community\/customer that is denied the right to access electricity. We\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/b0Wb4ExaRI<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Department of Electricity and Energy (@DOEE_ZA) September 25, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
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