Eskom’s Electricity Losses: What Happened and What’s Being Done

The Big Picture

Between April 2025 and February 2026, Eskom lost about R11.17 billion worth of electricity. That’s roughly the cost of powering‑up a small city for a year. The loss figure came from a parliamentary answer by Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, who responded to a question from uMkhonto weSizwe MP Sanele Mwali.

Where the Money Went

Technical Losses

About R3.02 billion (roughly 27 % of the total) was due to technical problems – things like aging transformers, line faults, and equipment that simply isn’t working as it should.

Non‑Technical Losses

The larger chunk, R8.15 billion (about 73 %), came from non‑technical issues:

• Illegal connections (people tapping into the grid without permission)
• Meter tampering or bypassing
• Straight‑up electricity theft

These actions mean that power is being used but never paid for, which hurts Eskom’s bottom line and can lead to higher tariffs for everyone else.

What Eskom Is Doing About It

Law‑Enforcement and Meter Work

Eskom teams are working with police to shut down illegal connections, test meters for accuracy, and repair damaged infrastructure.

Smart Meters

The utility is rolling out smart meters that can detect tampering in real time and send usage data straight to Eskom’s control centre. This makes it harder for thieves to hide their activity.

Public Awareness Campaign

A new campaign urges South Africans to “stand against electricity theft” and to pay for the power they use. Posters, social media ads, and community talks aim to change attitudes and encourage reporting of suspicious activity.

Progress So Far

Minister Ramokgopa noted some encouraging signs:

• Over R500 million of lost revenue has been recovered.
• More than 1 000 GWh of electricity loss has been cut compared with the same period last financial year – enough to power roughly 100 000 average homes for a year.

The Road Ahead

Eskom says it will keep pushing its loss‑management strategy, relying on:

• Data analytics to spot problem areas fast
• Dedicated loss‑reduction teams
• Modern digital tools and streamlined processes

The goal is simple: keep the lights on for paying customers while reducing the billions lost to theft and technical faults.

Conclusion

Electricity theft and technical faults cost Eskom billions, but a mix of law‑enforcement, technology, and public outreach is already making a dent. If the current efforts continue, South Africans can expect fewer blackouts, fairer prices, and a more reliable power supply for everyone.