Less than one in four poor households get free electricity

Only 22.8% of poor households are given free electricity, representing one in four qualifying families.

- Enkosi Selane

This was revealed during a parliamentary portfolio committee briefing this week by the department of electricity and energy.

The department presented a comprehensive strategy to eliminate load reduction across South Africa by March 2027, targeting 1.69 million affected customers through a three-phase implementation plan focused on smart meter roll-outs, expanded free basic electricity, and distributed energy resources.

Eskom renewables manager Kubeshnie Bhugwandin told the committee that load reduction represents a critical challenge distinct from the national load shedding crisis.