Eskom says more than 352-thousand customers are no longer affected by load reduction during peak periods as part of its broader programme to stabilise the electricity network.

The utility says load reduction has been fully eliminated in the Northern Cape and Western Cape, while smart meter installations continue to expand nationwide.

Eskom says illegal connections and meter tampering remain a major challenge, damaging infrastructure and creating safety risks, which has forced the continued use of targeted load reduction in some high-risk areas.

The utility plans to phase out load reduction completely by 2027, with interventions including smart meters, distributed energy systems, and expanded free basic electricity support.