Eskom says unlawful connections, meter tampering continue to harm infrastructure

Eskom said that the country’s power system remains stable, but unlawful connections and meter tampering continue to harm infrastructure and pose serious safety risks.

Spokesperson Daphne Mokwena said load reduction is still being implemented in high-risk areas as a temporary measure.

The utility has launched a phased plan to stop load reduction by 2027, targeting 971 feeders and about 1.69 million customers countrywide.

ALSO READ: Eskom reports major improvements across generation fleet

So far, more than 590,000 smart meters have been installed - many in high-risk provinces like Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal - to help manage demand and give users better supervision over their electricity use.

However, Eskom Spokesperson Daphne Mokwena said progress has been slowed by resistance in some communities, including intimidation and violence against installation teams, delaying more than 120,000 planned meter upgrades.

“Eskom is harnessing technology, upgrading infrastructure, and partnering with communities to ensure a safer, smarter, and more reliable power network for South Africa.”

The utility said it is moving forward with its smart meter roll out plans, aiming to strengthen stability and performance.