View source for Eskom

{{short description|South African electricity public utility}}
{{distinguish|text=other similarly-named but unrelated businesses known as [[Escom (disambiguation)|Escom]]}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use South African English|date=May 2012}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Eskom
| logo = [[File:Eskom.svg|200px|The Eskom logo (2002–present)]]
| type = [[Public utility]]
| traded_as = {{JSE|BIESKM}}
| services = Electricity generation, transmission and distribution
| industry = [[Energy]]
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list|Mteto Nyati (Chairman)| Dan Marokane (Group Chief Executive)| Calib Cassim (Chief Financial Officer)}}
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1923|3|1|df=y}}
| defunct = 
| revenue = {{increase}} {{ZAR|295.81}}{{nbsp}}billion
| revenue_year = 2024<ref name="FS - Eskom" />
| operating_income = 
| income_year = <!-- Year of operating_income data (if known) -->
| net_income = {{decrease}} {{ZAR|−55.02}}{{nbsp}}billion
| net_income_year = 2024<ref name="FS - Eskom" />
| aum = <!-- Only for financial-service companies -->
| assets = {{increase}} {{ZAR|866.32}}{{nbsp}}billion
| assets_year = 2024<ref name="FS - Eskom">{{cite web |title=Financial Statements 2024 |url=https://www.eskom.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Eskom-annual-financial-statements-2024.pdf |access-date=17 September 2025}}</ref>
| equity = {{decrease}} {{ZAR|222.86}}{{nbsp}}billion
| equity_year = 2024<ref name="FS - Eskom" />
| num_employees = {{increase}} 40,625
| num_employees_year = 2024<ref>{{cite web |title=Eskom Integrated Report |url=https://www.eskom.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Eskom-integrated-report-2024.pdf |access-date=17 September 2025 |page=95}}</ref>
| location = [[Sunninghill, Gauteng|Sunninghill]], [[Sandton]], [[South Africa]]
| subsid = {{collapsible list|
[[Amazing Amanzi (Pty) Ltd]] <br>
[[EON Solutions Africa (Pty) Ltd]] <br>
[[Escap SOC Limited]] <br>
[[Escap Ltd]] <br>
[[Eskom Enterprises (Pty) Limited]] <br>
[[Eskom Enterprises Global West Africa]] <br>
[[Eskom Finance Co (Pty) Ltd]] <br>
[[Eskom Finance Company SOC Limited]] <br>
[[Eskom Uganda Limited]] <br>
[[Gallium Insurance Co. Ltd]] <br>
[[Golang Coal (Pty) Ltd]] <br>
Hem-kom Live Line Engineering(pty) Limited <br>
[[Mountain Communications (Pty) Ltd]] <br>
[[PN Energy Services (Pty) Ltd]] <br>
[[Rosherville Vehicle Services (Pty) Ltd]] <br>
[[Rotek Industries (Pty) Limited]] <br>
[[South Dunes Coal Terminal (Pty) Ltd]] <br>
[[Technology Services International (Pty) Ltd]] <br>
[[Ted (Pty) Ltd]] <br>
[[The Natal Navigation Colliers & Estate Company Limited]] <br>
[[Trans Africa Projects (Pty) Ltd]] <br>
[[Transpoint (Pty) Ltd]]
}}
| module = {{infobox network service provider|child=yes|asn= 37121}}
| homepage = [http://www.eskom.co.za www.eskom.co.za]
}}

'''Eskom Hld SOC Ltd''' or '''Eskom''' is a South African electricity [[public utility]]. Eskom was established in 1923 as the '''Electricity Supply Commission (ESCOM)''' ({{langx|af|Elektrisiteitsvoorsieningskommissie (EVKOM)}}). Eskom represents [[South Africa]] in the [[Southern African Power Pool]]. The utility is the largest producer of electricity in [[Africa]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://afkinsider.com/76584/producing-consuming-electricity-africa/ | title=Which Countries Produce And Consume Most Electricity in Africa?|last=Sanchez|first=Dana| date=28 October 2014|access-date=28 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indexmundi.com/g/r.aspx?v=79&t=100|title=Electricity - production - Country Comparison - TOP 100|website=indexmundi.com}}</ref> and was among the top utilities in the world in terms of generation capacity and sales. It is the largest of [[State-owned enterprises of South Africa|South Africa's state owned enterprises]].  Eskom operates a number of notable [[power station]]s, including [[Matimba Power Station]] and [[Medupi Power Station]] in [[Lephalale]], [[Kusile Power Station]] in [[Witbank]], [[Kendal Power Station]], and [[Koeberg Nuclear Power Station]] in the [[Western Cape]] Province, the only nuclear power plant in [[Africa]].

The company is divided into Generation, Transmission and Distribution divisions, and together Eskom generates approximately 95% of electricity used in South Africa, amounting to ~45% used in Africa,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/OurCompany/CompanyInformation/Pages/Company_Information.aspx|title=Company information overview|website=eskom.co.za|date=14 January 2021 }}</ref> and emits 42% of South Africa's total [[greenhouse gas emissions]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.bloombergenvironment.com/environment-and-energy/eskom-sasol-emit-over-half-of-south-africas-greenhouse-gas|title=Eskom, Sasol Emit Over Half of South Africa's Greenhouse Gas|website=news.bloombergenvironment.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2019-08-19-eskom-sasol-fingered-over-worlds-second-worst-sulfur-dioxide-hotspot/|title=Eskom and Sasol fingered over 'world's second-worst sulphur dioxide hot-spot'|website=BusinessLIVE|date=19 August 2019 |language=en-ZA|access-date=2019-12-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.miningmx.com/news/energy/38025-greenpeace-blames-eskom-sasol-for-world-sulphur-hot-spot-in-sas-mpumalanga-province/|title=Greenpeace blames Eskom, Sasol for world sulphur hot-spot in SA's Mpumalanga province|last=McKay|first=David|date=2019-08-19|website=Miningmx|language=en-ZA|access-date=2019-12-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://businesstech.co.za/news/energy/335253/south-africa-is-second-largest-hotspot-of-sulfur-dioxide-emissions/|title=South Africa is second-largest hotspot of sulfur dioxide emissions|last=Bloomberg|website=businesstech.co.za|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-26}}</ref> By releasing 1.6 million tons of [[sulphur dioxide]] into the air in 2019, Eskom is also the largest emitter of sulphur dioxide in the power industry in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsendip.com/a-single-south-african-company-emits-more-sulfur-dioxide-than-power-sectors-or-most-countries/|title=A South African company emits more sulfur dioxide than anyone in the power sector|date=7 October 2021}}</ref> Eskom has periodically implemented [[South African energy crisis#Loadshedding|rolling blackouts]] since January 2008, a practice ascribed to basic dereliction of duty by former president [[Thabo Mbeki]].<ref name="di2">{{cite news |title=Thabo Mbeki's explosive allegations about Eskom and load-shedding |url=https://dailyinvestor.com/energy/28946/thabo-mbekis-explosive-allegations-about-eskom-and-load-shedding/ |access-date=15 September 2023 |work=Energy |agency=Daily Investor |publisher=dailyinvestor.com |date=24 August 2023}}</ref> Implementation of new [[Electricity generation|generating capacity]] during this period was fraught with [[construction delay|delays]] and [[cost overrun]]s which brought the utility to the brink of bankruptcy.<ref name="di1">{{cite news |title=No power from Kusile after R233 billion and 15 years of construction |url=https://dailyinvestor.com/energy/30957/no-power-from-kusile-after-r233-billion-and-15-years-of-construction/ |access-date=14 September 2023 |work=Energy |agency=Daily Investor |publisher=dailyinvestor.com |date=12 September 2023}}</ref> In 2019, it was announced that Eskom was to be [[#Restructuring efforts|split up]] into three distinct nationally owned entities due to huge debts and poor reliability of supply.<ref name=":18">{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2019-02-07-eskom-to-be-split-into-three-soes-cyril-ramaphosa-confirms-in-sona/|title=Eskom to be split into three SOEs, Cyril Ramaphosa confirms in Sona|last=Paton|first=Carol|date=7 February 2019|website=businesslive.co.za|language=en-ZA|access-date=2019-02-11}}</ref>

At the [[2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference]], a deal was announced for developed countries to fund [[South Africa]]'s transition from coal power to [[renewable energy]]. However, employment in the mining sector threatens this transition.<ref>{{Cite web|first1=David|last1=McKenzie|first2=Ghazi|last2=Balkiz|title=US, UK and EU will help fund South Africa's coal phaseout, offering a model for the developing world|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/02/africa/south-africa-cop26-coal-intl-afr/index.html|access-date=2021-11-05|website=CNN|date=2 November 2021 }}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Congella Power Station.png|thumb|The Congella Power Station completed in 1928 was one of the first power plants built and owned by Eskom.]]
Prior to the establishment of Eskom, the provision of electricity was dominated by municipalities and private companies.  The city of [[Kimberley, Northern Cape|Kimberley]] was one of the first users of public electricity when it installed electric streetlights in 1882 to [[Security lighting|reduce crime at night]].<ref name=":17">{{Cite web|url=https://scholar.sun.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10019.1/19914/holtzhausen_comparative_2012.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|title=A comparative analysis of the coverage of the South African electrical energy crisis during the period 2005-2010 by Cape Town newspapers|last=Holtzhausen|first=Jacobus Petrus|date=March 2012|website=Stellenbosch University|access-date=21 December 2018}}</ref>{{rp|5}}<ref>{{Cite book|last=Christie|first=Renfrew|title=Electricity, Industry and Class in South Africa|publisher=Macmillan|year=1984|isbn=978-1-349-07032-9|location=London|pages=5}}</ref>   This was followed by [[Cape Town]] in 1895 with the construction of the [[Graaff Electric Lighting Works]] to power 775 street lights.

Eskom was founded by the [[Electricity Act of 1922]] which allowed the South African Electricity Control Board to appoint [[Hendrik van der Bijl|Hendrik Johannes van der Bijl]] as chairman.<ref>{{cite book|title=A Symphony of Power: The Eskom Story|last1=Conradie|first1=S. R.|last2=Messerschmidt|first2=L. J. M.|date=2000|publisher=Chris van Rensburg Publishers|location=Johannesburg|pages=77}}</ref> The company changed its name by combining the two acronyms in its previous name (ESCOM and EVKOM) in 1987 to become known as Eskom.

The Electricity Act stated that Eskom could only sell electricity at cost and was exempted from tax with the firm initially raising capital through the issuing of [[debenture]]s, later issuing state-guaranteed loans instead. The coal-fired [[Congella Power Station]] in [[Durban]] and [[Salt River Power Station]] in Cape Town were the first power stations built by Eskom, both completed in mid-1928.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/sites/heritage/Pages/Congella-Power-Station.aspx|title=Congella Power Station|website=eskom.co.za|access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref>

One of Eskom's first power plants was a coal-fired 128 MW station in [[Witbank]], completed in 1935 to provide power to the mining industry.  The plant was built and run in partnership with the privately owned [[Victoria Falls and Transvaal Power Company]], which owned a number of other power plants across the country.  Thanks to state support, Eskom was able to buy out the [[Victoria Falls]] and Transvaal Power Company in 1948 for £14.5 million (roughly equivalent to £2.55 billion in 2017). Following [[World War II|World War 2]], South Africa experienced power shortages that led to Eskom negotiating power saving agreements with the mining industry in June 1948.<ref name=":17" />{{rp|6}}

=== First expansion period: 1960-1994 ===
[[File:South Africa-Mpumalanga-Middelburg-Arnot Power Station (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Arnot Power Station]] completed in 1975 was one of the first of the "six-pack" coal-fired power plants built during this period that Eskom was well known for.]]
From 1960 to 1990 Eskom increased its installed power production capacity from 4,000 MW to 40,000 MW so as to keep up with rapid economic growth in the 1960s and 70s.<ref name=":17" />{{rp|4}}  During the same period, Eskom established a nationwide 400 kV power network. During this period the company built a number of large standardised coal-fired power plants that could produce power at very low cost due to the large [[economies of scale]].  These plants were known colloquially as "six-packs" for the 6 large generator units they were designed to accommodate.<ref name=":17" />{{rp|7}}

In 1974 the company was instructed to start work on [[Koeberg Nuclear Power Station|Koeberg nuclear power station]] to both provide power to Cape Town and help facilitate the [[Nuclear programme of South Africa|South African government's nuclear program]].<ref name=":17" />{{rp|7}}

In 1981 Eskom was involved in one of its first large financial scandals when its Assistant Chief Accountant was caught embezzling R8 million from the company<ref name=":17" />{{rp|7}} (equivalent to roughly R164.37 million in 2018).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://inflationcalc.co.za/?date1=1981-10-27&date2=2018-09-14&amount=8000000|title=South African Inflation Adjustment Calculator|access-date=21 December 2018}}</ref>

During the 1970s the company controversially sought to increase electrical tariffs to help pay for its large expansion plans.  Due to its financial situation, the government appointed Dr. W.J. de Villiers to chair a commission that recommended a number of financial and organisational changes for the company to adopt. This led to the company abandoning its no-profit objective and to raise funds by taking out international loans. The number of Eskom employees was also reduced from 66,000 to 60,000 in the late-1980s.<ref name=":17" />{{rp|8}}

=== Post-1994 election period: 1994-2007 ===
Following [[1994 South African general election|democratic elections in 1994]] and the start of the [[Nelson Mandela|Mandela]] government the company changed focus to electrification of previously neglected residential homes and to provide low cost electricity for economic growth.  Following the passing of the 1998 [[Eskom Amendment Act]] government's powers to influence company policy and investment decisions were greatly expanded.<ref name=":17" />{{rp|8–9}} Due to the South African government's attempted privatisation of Eskom in the late 1990s during the administration of President [[Thabo Mbeki]], Eskom requests for budget to build new stations were denied. After leaving the presidency, Mbeki would later state in December 2007 that this was an error, resulting in adverse affects for the South African economy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/AboutElectricity/FactsFigures/Documents/ConsumersProtectedRenewableEnergyCosts.pdf|title=Consumers must be protected from renewable energy pass through costs(Media statement by Matshela Koko, Eskom Group Executive for Generation)|access-date=29 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202034847/http://www.eskom.co.za/AboutElectricity/FactsFigures/Documents/ConsumersProtectedRenewableEnergyCosts.pdf|archive-date=2 February 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:Medupikragstasie, Ellisras, Limpopo, a.jpg|thumb|Construction work on the [[Medupi Power Station|Medupi]] (pictured) and [[Kusile Power Station|Kusile]] coal-fired power stations was started in the 2007-2019 period as part of Eskom's capacity expansion program following the energy crisis.]]

=== Load shedding and second expansion: 2007-present ===
{{See also|South African energy crisis}}
In February 2006, Eskom announced "load shedding" in the Western Cape province, due to issues experienced by Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-01-21 |title=Eskom Homepage |url=http://www.eskom.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=1027 |access-date=2024-01-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060222004832/http://www.eskom.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=1027 |archive-date=22 February 2006 }}</ref> this continued until June 2006. In January 2008, Eskom controversially introduced load shedding nationally ([[Rolling blackout#South Africa|rolling blackout]]s) based on a rotating schedule, in periods where short supply threatened the integrity of the grid. Demand-side management has focused on encouraging consumers to conserve power during peak periods in order to reduce the incidence of load shedding. Following the national power shortage in 2007, Eskom embarked on an aggressive electricity production expansion programme during the administration of President [[Jacob Zuma]]. The Zuma administration decided to focus expansion efforts on building additional large scale six-pack coal-fired power plants.<ref name=":20" />

In 2016, Eskom stated it intended to pursue a nuclear solution to the country's energy shortage. According to projections from late 2016, the use of nuclear power would provide over 1000GW of power by 2050.  In preparation, the company launched a training program for 100 technicians, engineers and artisans that would certify them as nuclear operators.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.iol.co.za/business-report/economy/eskom-defends-sas-nuclear-aspirations-2054316|title=Eskom defends SA's nuclear aspirations {{!}} IOL|date=7 August 2016|access-date=2017-04-03|language=en}}</ref> In January 2018, Eskom's acting chief financial officer stated that the company could not afford a new build, following a 34% drop in interim profits due to declining sales and increasing financing costs. The government stated it would proceed with the plan but more slowly.<ref name="nei-20180201">{{cite news|url=http://www.neimagazine.com/news/newssouth-africas-nuclear-plans-under-reconsideration-6043855|title=South Africa's nuclear plans under reconsideration|date=1 February 2018|access-date=4 February 2018|publisher=Nuclear Engineering International}}</ref>

In 2017, Eskom was the focus of a major [[#2017 corruption scandal|corruption scandal]] involving the [[Gupta family]] and the administration of then President Jacob Zuma.

The [[National Energy Regulator of South Africa]] denied an application by Eskom to increase electricity tariffs by a future 19.9% for the financial year 2018/19.  The regulator instead granted a 5.2% increase and gave a list of reasons for the refusal to grant higher tariffs that the South African newspaper [[Business Day (South Africa)|Business Day]] stated painted "a picture of inefficiency, inaccurate forecasting and cost overruns" at the power utility. Part of the refusal was the finding that Eskom had 6,000 more employees than needed, costing the company R3.8 billion annually.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/companies/energy/2018-03-05-no-more-steep-tariff-hikes-for-eskom/|title=No more steep tariff hikes for Eskom|last=Joffe|first=Hilary|date=5 March 2018|work=Business Day|access-date=2018-03-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305074234/https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/companies/energy/2018-03-05-no-more-steep-tariff-hikes-for-eskom/|archive-date=2018-03-05|url-status=dead|language=en-ZA}}</ref>

In February 2019, shortly after the announcement by government that the company would be broken up, Eskom initiated another round of emergency load shedding. Eskom stated that the 2019 load shedding was initiated due to breakdowns at power stations as well as the depletion of water and diesel resources. Other reasons cited included legacy issues from [[State capture#South Africa|state capture]] corruption, coal availability, and that new power plants such as [[Medupi Power Station|Medupi]] and [[Kusile Power Station|Kusile]] were not yet operational.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-02-12-dark-days-are-here-again-as-eskom-buckles-anger-rises-and-conspiracy-theories-abound/|title=Dark days are here again: As Eskom buckles, anger rises...|last=Mthethwa|first=Rebecca Davis and Ayanda|website=Daily Maverick|date=11 February 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-02-12}}</ref><ref name=":19">{{Cite web|url=https://www.fin24.com/Economy/eskom-and-the-multi-billion-rand-mega-projects-that-could-have-saved-sa-20190213|title=Eskom and the multi-billion rand mega projects that could have saved SA|last=Gosling|first=Melanie|date=2019-02-13|website=Fin24|access-date=2019-02-13}}</ref> Corruption during the Zuma administration had been noted as a major factor in the cost overruns and long delays in completing Medupi and Kusile power plants that had a knock-on effect leading to the 2019 power shortages.<ref name=":19" /> The power shortage and related troubles at Eskom was blamed as a significant contributing factor to a 3.2% decline in GDP growth in the first quarter of 2019,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fin24.com/Economy/how-eskom-maimed-sas-entire-economy-20190605-2|title=How Eskom maimed SA's entire economy|last=Mike Cohen and Paul Vecchiatto|date=2019-06-05|website=Fin24|access-date=2019-06-07}}</ref> prompting fears of a [[recession]] in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.polity.org.za/article/risk-of-sa-economy-hitting-recession-in-2019-high-says-moodys-2019-06-06|title=Risk of South African economy hitting recession in 2019 high, says Moody's|website=Polity.org.za|access-date=2019-06-07}}</ref> In December 2019, President [[Cyril Ramaphosa|Ramaphosa]], deputy president [[David Mabuza]] and Ministers [[Gwede Mantashe]] and [[Pravin Gordhan]] met with Eskom's board and management to discuss about the energy crises.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-11 |title=No load-shedding from Tuesday, promises Ramaphosa as 'sabotage' partly blamed for blackouts |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2019-12-11-sabotage-eskom-insider-blamed-for-costing-sa-2000mw-ramaphosa/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=TimesLIVE |language=en-ZA}}</ref> The president attributed the recent blackouts partly to sabotage at the [[Tutuka Power Station]] in [[Mpumalanga]] which had caused a loss of 2000 megawatts of electricity,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-11 |title=No load-shedding until mid-Jan, promises Ramaphosa, as 'sabotage' partly blamed for blackouts |url=https://www.dispatchlive.co.za/news/2019-12-11-no-load-shedding-until-mid-jan-promises-ramaphosa-as-sabotage-partly-blamed-for-blackouts/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=DispatchLIVE |language=en-ZA}}</ref> and announced measures to bring an end to load-shedding. Mantashe and Gordhan were tasked with presenting ways to increase electricity capacity to the cabinet, which would include self-generation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-11 |title=WRAP {{!}} Ramaphosa's promise to SA: 'It won't be a dark Christmas' |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/developing-loadshedding-at-stage-2-grid-remains-stable-and-wont-collapse-eskom-20191211 |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=[[News24 (website)|News24]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Amid the crisis, [[Jabu Mabuza]] resigned from his post as chairperson of Eskom's board in January 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2020-01-10 |title=President Ramaphosa notes resignation of Eskom chair Mr Jabu Mabuza |url=https://www.thepresidency.gov.za/press-statements/president-ramaphosa-notes-resignation-eskom-chair-mr-jabu-mabuza |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=www.thepresidency.gov.za |language=en}}</ref> Between March and July 2020 the power supply was stable due to reduced demand during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa|COVID-19 lockdown]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Winning|first=Alexander|title=South Africa's Eskom cannot say how long latest power cuts will last|url=https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/south-africas-eskom-cannot-say-how-long-latest-power-cuts-will-last-2020-07-15|access-date=2020-07-15|website=nasdaq.com|language=en}}</ref> but on 12 July a new round of level 2 load shedding began due to the breakdown of generating units.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-12|title=Eskom stage 2 load shedding starts on Sunday morning|url=https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/eskom-stage-2-load-shedding-starts/|access-date=2020-07-15|website=SABC News|language=en-US}}</ref> During the winter of 2023, the country experienced Stage 6 blackouts, shaving a projected 2% off the country's GDP.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africa-nearing-end-daily-power-cuts-minister-says-2023-07-02/ South Africa nearing end of daily power cuts, minister says]</ref> During the worst period, power cuts lasted 12 hours a day.<ref>[https://www.africanews.com/2023/05/18/south-africa-load-shedding-will-intensify-in-winter/ South Africa: load shedding will intensify in winter]</ref> The company faces theft of materials for resale, sabotage to force repairs to be made at corruptly inflated prices, and assassination attempts which may be motivated by the attempt to replace coal with renewable sources.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/will-south-africas-power-crisis-sink-its-green-ambitions |title=Will South Africa's Power Crisis Sink Its Green Ambitions? |publisher=Council on Foreign Relations |author=Mariel Ferragamo |date=July 20, 2023}}</ref>

===Logos===
Eskom's logo has been an integral symbol of the company since its founding.  For a brief period in 1986 Eskom had no logo when it was moving away from the company's original logo of stylised letters spelling "ESC" within a circle to the more contemporary version with a blue shield with a stylised lightning bolt in its centre.  The 1987 logo was replaced in 2002 with its current logo that replaced the shield with a circle but otherwise kept the logo as it was.

<gallery heights="90" mode="packed">
File:Esc logo wit.png|1923
File:Eskom logo 1987.svg|1987
File:Eskom 2002 logo.svg|2002
</gallery>

== Restructuring efforts ==
{{quote box
| quote = Eskom's sales have been declining by about 1% per annum. The less it sells, the higher the tariff it wants, and the less it sells – the utility death spiral. |author=Rod Crompton, Adjunct professor African Energy Leadership Centre Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand<ref name="Crompton">{{Cite web|url=http://theconversation.com/explainer-why-south-africas-energy-generator-is-in-so-much-trouble-111510|title=Explainer: why South Africa's energy generator is in so much trouble|last=Crompton|first=Rod|website=The Conversation|date=10 February 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-02-12}}</ref>
| align = right
| width = 34%
}}

In December 1998, a [[white paper]] prepared by the Department of Minerals and Energy recommended that the government restructure Eskom into separate generation and transmission businesses. Although the report predicted that this action would improve power supply and reliability, it was never enacted.<ref>{{cite report|author=Department of Minerals and Energy|date=December 1998|title=White Paper on the Energy Policy of the Republic of South Africa|url=http://www.energy.gov.za/files/policies/whitepaper_energypolicy_1998.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015000900/http://www.energy.gov.za/files/policies/whitepaper_energypolicy_1998.pdf|publisher=Department of Minerals and Energy|archive-date=15 October 2021|pages=55–56|access-date=29 October 2021}}</ref>

In February 2019, these plans were resurrected during the [[State of the Nation Address (South Africa)|State of the Nation address]]. President [[Cyril Ramaphosa|Ramaphosa]] announced that the government would be splitting Eskom up into three new state-owned entities focusing on generation, transmission and distribution.<ref name=":18"/> This was done so as to better manage the serious operational and financial problems facing the company.  By the time of the speech Eskom had a total debt burden of R419 billion<ref name=":18" /> (US$30.8 billion) and was entering a death spiral whereby there was not enough revenue to make debt repayments.<ref name="Crompton"/>

In a February 2019 briefing, the [[Department of Public Enterprises]] stated that Eskom was "[[Insolvency|technically insolvent]]" and would not be able to operate past the next three months if it did not receive additional loans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fin24.com/Economy/Eskom/eskom-technically-insolvent-wont-last-beyond-april-2019-committee-hears-20190213|title=Eskom 'technically insolvent', won't last beyond April 2019 - committee hears|last=Omarjee|first=Lameez|date=2019-02-13|website=Fin24|access-date=2019-02-14}}</ref> Finance Minister [[Tito Mboweni]] then announced in his 2019 budget speech that government would be providing a R69 billion rand (US$5 billion) bail-out to Eskom over a three-year period so as to stabilise the company's serious financial situation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sharenet.co.za/news/Eskom_support_will_weigh_on_South_Africas_finances__SP_Global/2248f7e9d36704472c54a5fd44152b96|title=Eskom support will weigh on South Africa's finances - S&P Global|last=Jones|first=Marc|date=2019-02-21|website=SHARENET|access-date=2019-02-22}}</ref>

=== Transmission ===
{{Main|National Transmission Company of South Africa}}
As result of the restructuring, a transmission entity called the [[National Transmission Company of South Africa]] (NTCSA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Eskom, would be given its own board, by 31 March 2020 in which the transmission legal entity would be responsible for hearing legislative amendments in accordance to government law. This new transmission entity would involve up to 6,000 people that are responsible of setting up thousands of kilometres of "wires" and transmission lines that would ensure electricity from the power stations to where power is needed.<ref>{{Citation|title=Measuring the Digital Transformation|date=2019-03-11|pages=192–193|chapter=Daily life|publisher=OECD Publishing|doi=10.1787/b710d3da-en|isbn=978-92-64-31198-5|s2cid=240623803}}</ref> As part of the Transmission Development Plan (TDP) for 2020–2029 Eskom has plans to increase its transmission infrastructure by approximately 4,800&nbsp;km of extra high voltage transmission lines, and over 35,000 MVA of transformer capacity over the next 10 years. This new outline of reconstructing Eskom comes from new regulatory guidelines from the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) to publish an annual TDP report. {{Citation needed|date=February 2020}}

In July 2023, NERSA approved for the National Transmission Company of South Africa to operate a transmission system in South Africa.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Comins |first=Lyse |date=2023-07-30 |title=Eskom unbundling 'milestone' announced |url=https://mg.co.za/environment/2023-07-30-eskom-unbundling-milestone-announced/ |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref> In September 2023, NERSA approved the remaining trading and import/export licences.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minister Pravin Gordhan welcomes approval of remaining licences for National Transmission Company of SA (NTCSA) by NERSA {{!}} South African Government |url=https://www.gov.za/speeches/minister-gordhan-welcomes-approval-remaining-licences-national-transmission-company-sa |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=www.gov.za}}</ref>

=== COSATU response ===
In response to feared job losses resulting from the breakup the trade union [[Congress of South African Trade Unions|COSATU]] organised a national strike and called for a moratorium on retrenchments in the private and public sectors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fin24.com/Economy/cosatu-takes-to-the-streets-over-eskom-job-losses-heres-what-you-need-to-know-20190213|title=Cosatu takes to the streets over Eskom, job losses. Here's what you need to know|last=Niselow|first=Tehillah|date=2019-02-13|website=Fin24|access-date=2019-02-13}}</ref><ref name=":23">{{Cite web|url=https://www.biznews.com/undictated/2019/08/02/eskom-death-spiral-restructuring|title=Eskom death spiral: Where's the restructuring?|last=Duncan|first=Felicity|date=2019-08-01|website=BizNews.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-08-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47232268|title=Why the lights keep going out in South Africa|date=2019-02-16|publisher=BBC|access-date=2019-08-09|language=en-GB}}</ref> This caused to the apparent abandonment of the government's company breakup and restructuring plans.<ref name=":23" /><ref name=":24">{{Cite web|url=https://www.fin24.com/Opinion/ferial-haffajee-reading-the-signs-eskoms-s-death-spiral-is-about-to-speed-up-20190731|title=Reading the signs, Eskom's death spiral is about to speed up|last=Haffajee|first=Ferial|date=2019-07-31|website=Fin24|access-date=2019-08-09}}</ref> In July 2019 the outgoing Eskom CEO announced that Eskom had entered a "death spiral" and highlighted the need for the company to restructure.<ref name=":24" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/south-africas-eskom-facing-death-175120531.html|title=South Africa's Eskom facing "death spiral": departing CEO|last=Winning|first=Alexander|date=30 July 2019|website=finance.yahoo.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-09}}</ref> Following the appointment of [[André de Ruyter]] as Eskom CEO trade unions [[National Union of Mineworkers (South Africa)|National Union of Mineworkers]] and [[Solidarity (South African trade union)|Solidarity]] stated that they would fight any government restructuring efforts that might result in job losses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fin24.com/Economy/eskoms-de-ruyter-must-either-toe-governments-line-or-ours-num-20191218|title=Eskom's De Ruyter must either toe government's line or ours - NUM|date=2019-12-18|website=Fin24|access-date=2019-12-20}}</ref>

In December 2019 COSATU suggested that money be used from the [[Public Investment Corporation]] (PIC) to reduce Eskom's debt from around R450 billion to more manageable levels.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2019-12-13-00-cosatu-suggests-an-eskom-solution/|title=Cosatu suggests an Eskom solution|date=2019-12-13|website=The Mail & Guardian|language=en-ZA|access-date=2020-02-15}}</ref> In return COSTATU proposed a number of conditions that included keeping workers employed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.co.za/government-pensions-eskom-2020-2|title=EXPLAINER: The plan to bankroll Eskom with government employee pensions|website=BusinessInsider|access-date=2020-02-15}}</ref> The trade union Solidarity was strongly apposed to the COSATU proposal arguing that it put the pensions of public employees at risk.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2020-02-12-solidarity-vows-to-fight-cosatus-eskom-pensions-rescue-plan/|title=Solidarity vows to fight Cosatu's Eskom pensions rescue plan|website=BusinessLIVE|date=12 February 2020 |language=en-ZA|access-date=2020-02-15}}</ref> The country's second biggest trade union, the [[Federation of Unions of South Africa]], was also skeptical of COSATU's proposed plan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-02-12-union-disunity-holds-up-cosatus-eskom-bailout-idea/|title=Business Maverick: Union disunity holds up Cosatu's Eskom bailout idea|last=Davie|first=Kevin|website=Daily Maverick|date=12 February 2020 |language=en|access-date=2020-02-15}}</ref>

===Job losses===
Between 2020 and 2021, two thousand employees lost their jobs at the power utility. 6000 more jobs are reportedly at risk in order for the company to continue operating.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shange|first=Naledi|title=2,000 Eskom employees gone in a year, but 6,000 more must go to reach 'right size'|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2021-02-15-2000-eskom-employees-gone-in-a-year-but-6000-more-must-go-to-reach-right-size/|access-date=2021-03-26|website=TimesLIVE|date=15 February 2021 |language=en-ZA}}</ref>

==Installed capacity==
{{main|List of power stations in South Africa}}

===Subscribers===

Eskom – the only electricity utility in the country – has 16,789,974 subscribers in South Africa, comprising about one-third of the population.

=== Fossil-fuelled power stations ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Power plant
!Province
!Type
!Date commissioned<br />(planned)
!Capacity ([[Megawatt|MW]])<br />(planned)
!Status
!Notes
|-
|[[Acacia Power Station]]
|Western Cape
|[[Gas turbine power plant|Gas turbine]]
|1976
|171
|Operational
|<ref name="eskom-pa">[http://www.eskom.co.za/content/GS_0001GasTurbAcaciaPortRexRev6.pdf]{{dead link|date=May 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> {{dead link |date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}
|-
|[[Ankerlig Power Station]]
|Western Cape
|Gas turbine
|2007
|1,338
|Operational
|<ref name="eskom-ag">{{cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/content/GS_0002AnkerlGourikGasTurbPstnsRev5.pdf|title=ANKERLIG AND GOURIKWA GAS TURBINE POWER STATIONS|publisher=Eskom|access-date=7 October 2010}}{{dead link|date=January 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
|-
|[[Arnot Power Station]]
|Mpumalanga
|[[Coal-fired power station|Coal-fired]]
|1971-1975
|2,352
|Operational
|<ref name="eskom-arnot">{{cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/Whatweredoing/ElectricityGeneration/PowerStations/Pages/Arnot_Power_Station.aspx|title=Arnot Power Station|publisher=Eskom|access-date=29 January 2016|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170328/http://www.eskom.co.za/Whatweredoing/ElectricityGeneration/PowerStations/Pages/Arnot_Power_Station.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/IR2015/Documents/Eskom_fact_sheets_2015.pdf|title=Fact sheets with additional information|access-date=29 January 2016}}</ref>
|-
|[[Camden Power Station]]
|Mpumalanga
|Coal-fired
|1967-1969;<br />2005-2008
|1,561
|Operational
|<ref name=":4" /><ref name="eskom-camden">{{cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=162|title=Camden Power Station|publisher=Eskom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927044504/http://www.eskom.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=162|archive-date=27 September 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=6 January 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Duvha Power Station]]
|Mpumalanga
|Coal-fired
|1980-1984
|3,600
|Operational
|<ref name=":4" /><ref name="eskom-duvha">{{cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=163|title=DUVHA POWER STATION|publisher=Eskom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927044528/http://www.eskom.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=163|archive-date=27 September 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=8 January 2010}}</ref><ref name="isesp-icesp-x">{{cite web|url=http://www.isesp.org/ICESP%20X%20PAPERS/PDFS/Paper%207C1.pdf|title=COST COMPARISONS BETWEEN ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATORS AND PULSE JET FABRIC FILTERS AND INHERENT CHALLENGES OF BOTH TECHNOLOGIES AT ESKOM'S 6 X 600 MW UNITS AT DUVHA POWER STATION|author=Rod Hansen, Robbie van Rensburg|date=June 2006|publisher=International Society for Electrostatic Precipitation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726191707/http://www.isesp.org/ICESP%20X%20PAPERS/PDFS/Paper%207C1.pdf|archive-date=26 July 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=8 January 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Gourikwa Power Station]]
|Western Cape
|Gas turbine
|2007
|746
|Operational
|<ref name="eskom-ag" />
|-
|[[Grootvlei Power Station]]
|Mpumalanga
|Coal-fired
|1969-1977;<br />2008-2011
|1,180
|Operational
|<ref name=":4" /><ref name="eskom-grootvlei">{{cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=168|title=Grootvlei Power Station|publisher=Eskom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825083116/http://www.eskom.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=168|archive-date=25 August 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=9 January 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Hendrina Power Station]]
|Mpumalanga
|Coal-fired
|1970-1976
|1,893
|Operational
|<ref name=":4" /><ref name="eskom-hendrina">{{cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=169|title=HENDRINA POWER STATION|publisher=Eskom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825083122/http://www.eskom.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=169|archive-date=25 August 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=9 January 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Kendal Power Station]]
|Mpumalanga
|Coal-fired
|1988-1992
|4,116
|Operational
|<ref name=":4" /><ref name="BNET-nov-1994">{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb6677/is_199411/ai_n26461717/|title=World's largest coal-fired power station. (Kendal Power Station in South Africa)|date=November 1994|access-date=10 January 2010|publisher=[[BNET]]}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref><ref name="eskom-kendal">{{cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=170|title=KENDAL POWER STATION|publisher=Eskom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613115354/http://www.eskom.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=170|archive-date=13 June 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=10 January 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Komati Power Station]]
|Mpumalanga
|Coal-fired
|1961-1966;<br />2009-2013
|990
|Operational
|<ref name=":4" /><ref name="dme-cpgd">{{cite web|url=http://www.dme.gov.za/pdfs/energy/Energy_Summit/Final%20Role%20of%20State%20in%20Energy%2021%20Sept%202007.doc|title=The Role of the State in the Energy Sector|publisher=dme.gov.za|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216220625/http://www.dme.gov.za/pdfs/energy/Energy_Summit/Final%20Role%20of%20State%20in%20Energy%2021%20Sept%202007.doc|archive-date=16 December 2007|url-status=dead|access-date=13 January 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Kriel Power Station]]
|Mpumalanga
|Coal-fired
|1976-1979
|3,000
|Operational
|<ref name=":4" /><ref name="eskom-kriel">{{cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=177|title=KRIEL POWER STATION|publisher=Eskom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824051230/http://www.eskom.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=177|archive-date=24 August 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=10 January 2010}}</ref><ref name="eskom-coalburning">{{cite web|url=http://heritage.eskom.co.za/heritage/annualreports/1976/NEW%20Coal.pdf|title=Coal-burning generating plant|publisher=Eskom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817201603/http://heritage.eskom.co.za/heritage/annualreports/1976/NEW%20Coal.pdf|archive-date=17 August 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=7 October 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Kusile Power Station]]
|Mpumalanga
|Coal-fired
|(2017–2025)
|3,200 (4,800)
|4/6 units operational
|<ref name="sainfo-2008-08-11">{{cite web|url=http://www.southafrica.info/business/economy/infrastructure/kusile-110808.htm|title=Work begins on Kusile power station|date=11 August 2008|publisher=Government of South Africa|access-date=9 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090308091109/http://southafrica.info/business/economy/infrastructure/kusile-110808.htm|archive-date=8 March 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="eskom-kusile-2008-08-05">{{cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=7516|title=CONSTRUCTION OF KUSILE POWER STATION GETS UNDERWAY|date=5 August 2008|publisher=Eskom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927044629/http://www.eskom.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=7516|archive-date=27 September 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=9 January 2010}}</ref><ref name="Interim2011">{{cite web|url=http://www.eskomfinance.co.za/upload/Interm_results23Nov_2010_final1.pdf|title=Consolidated interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2010|date=23 November 2011|publisher=Eskom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124195139/http://www.eskomfinance.co.za/upload/Interm_results23Nov_2010_final1.pdf|archive-date=24 January 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=22 February 2011}}</ref><ref name="Supply status2">{{cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/Whatweredoing/SupplyStatus/Pages/Supply_Status2.aspx|title=Supply status|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417033840/http://www.eskom.co.za/Whatweredoing/SupplyStatus/Pages/Supply_Status2.aspx|archive-date=17 April 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=24 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="eskom.co.za">{{cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/Whatweredoing/SupplyStatus/Documents/AdequacyReport2013w47.ppt|title=Eskom Supply status – week 47, 2013|access-date=4 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140720045448/http://www.eskom.co.za/Whatweredoing/SupplyStatus/Documents/AdequacyReport2013w47.ppt|archive-date=20 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|[[Lethabo Power Station]]
|Free State
|Coal-fired
|1985-1990
|3,708
|Operational
|<ref name=":4" /><ref name="eskom-lethabo">{{cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=179|title=Lethabo Power Station|publisher=Eskom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713043507/http://www.eskom.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=179|archive-date=13 July 2009|url-status=dead|access-date=11 January 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Majuba Power Station]]
|Mpumalanga
|Coal-fired
|1996–2001
|4,110
|Operational
|<ref name=":4" /><ref name="eskom-majuba">{{cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/Whatweredoing/ElectricityGeneration/PowerStations/Pages/Majuba_Power_Station.aspx|title=KAJUBA POWER STATION|publisher=Eskom|access-date=11 January 2010|archive-date=16 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190916151420/http://www.eskom.co.za/Whatweredoing/ElectricityGeneration/PowerStations/Pages/Majuba_Power_Station.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.power-technology.com/projects/majuba/|title=Majuba Coal Fired Power Plant, South Africa|website=Power Technology|access-date=2 March 2015}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=domain on WP:BLACKLIST|date=June 2016}}
|-
|[[Matimba Power Station]]
|Limpopo
|Coal-fired
|1987-1991
|3,990
|Operational
|<ref name=":4" /><ref name="eskom-matimba">{{cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/Whatweredoing/ElectricityGeneration/PowerStations/Pages/Matimba_Power_Station.aspx|title=MATIMBA POWER STATION|publisher=Eskom|access-date=10 January 2010|archive-date=18 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191118080630/http://www.eskom.co.za/Whatweredoing/ElectricityGeneration/PowerStations/Pages/Matimba_Power_Station.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|[[Matla Power Station]]
|Mpumalanga
|Coal-fired
|1979-1983
|3,600
|Operational
|<ref name=":4" /><ref name="eskom-matla">{{cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/Whatweredoing/ElectricityGeneration/PowerStations/Pages/Matla_Power_Station.aspx|title=MATLA POWER STATION|publisher=Eskom|access-date=10 January 2010|archive-date=31 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731060237/http://www.eskom.co.za/Whatweredoing/ElectricityGeneration/PowerStations/Pages/Matla_Power_Station.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|[[Medupi Power Station]]
|Limpopo
|Coal-fired
|2015–2019
|4,764
|Operational
|<ref name="Interim2011" /><ref name="powertec-medupi">{{Cite web|url=https://www.power-technology.com/projects/|title=News on Renewable, Nuclear, Fossil, Technology, Market Data - Power Technology}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/content/Medupi%20Res%20BAR%20App%20D3%20-%20VIA.pdf|title=MEDUPI POWER STATION NEW RAW WATER RESERVOIR AND PIPELINES PROJECT VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT|publisher=Eskom|access-date=7 October 2010}}{{dead link|date=January 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref><ref name="Supply status2"/><ref name="eskom.co.za" />
|-
|[[Port Rex Power Station]]
|Eastern Cape
|Gas turbine
|1976
|171
|Operational
|<ref name="eskom-pa" />
|-
|[[Tutuka Power Station]]
|Mpumalanga
|Coal-fired
|1985-1990
|3,654
|Operational
|<ref name=":4"/><ref name="eskom-tutuka">{{cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=188|title=Tutuka Power Station|publisher=Eskom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927045014/http://www.eskom.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=188|archive-date=27 September 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=11 January 2010}}</ref>
|}

=== Renewable and nuclear power stations ===
[[File:Klipheuwel wind farm 2008.jpg|thumb|Eskom Generation's pilot [[wind farm]] facility at [[Klipheuwel]] in the [[Western Cape]], [[South Africa]].]]
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Power plant
!Province
!Type
!Date<br />commissioned
!Installed<br />capacity ([[Megawatt|MW]])
!Status
!Notes
|-
|[[Colley Wobbles Power Station]]
|Eastern Cape
|[[Hydroelectricity|Hydroelectric]]
|1984
|42
|Operational
|
|-
|[[Drakensberg Pumped Storage Scheme]]
|Free State
|[[Hydroelectricity|Hydroelectric]]
|1981
|1,000
|Operational
|<ref name="ESKOM-DPSS-pdf">{{cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/content/Drakensburg%20FA%20Pg%2001-06.pdf|title=Drakensberg Pumped Storage Scheme|date=October 2005|publisher=Eskom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016160516/http://www.eskom.co.za/content/Drakensburg%20FA%20Pg%2001-06.pdf|archive-date=16 October 2013|url-status=dead|access-date=9 November 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[Gariep Dam]]
|Free State-Eastern Cape border
|[[Hydroelectricity|Hydroelectric]]
|1971
|360
|Operational
|<ref name="dawf-gariep">{{cite web|url=http://www.dwaf.gov.za/orange/Mid_Orange/gariep.htm|title=GARIEP DAM|publisher=[[Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (South Africa)|Department of Water Affairs and Forestry]]|access-date=6 January 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme]]
|KwaZulu-Natal
|[[Hydroelectricity|Hydroelectric]]
|2017
|1,332
|Operational
|<ref name="Supply status2"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rmwg.co.za/Presentations/power_converence/11_Pumped_Storage_Schemes_%28Ingula%20and%20Lima%29_Frans_Louwin.pdf|title=CASE STUDY OF INGULA AND LIMA PUMPED STORAGE SCHEMES|access-date=19 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529161214/http://www.rmwg.co.za/Presentations/power_converence/11_Pumped_Storage_Schemes_%28Ingula%20and%20Lima%29_Frans_Louwin.pdf|archive-date=29 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|[[Koeberg nuclear power station|Koeberg Power Station]]
|Western Cape
|[[Nuclear power|Nuclear]]
|1984
|1,860
|Operational
|<ref name="Koeberg Power Station">{{cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/Whatweredoing/ElectricityGeneration/KoebergNuclearPowerStation/Pages/Koeberg_Power_Station.aspx|title=Koeberg Power Station|access-date=6 April 2015|archive-date=13 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613123845/http://www.eskom.co.za/Whatweredoing/ElectricityGeneration/KoebergNuclearPowerStation/Pages/Koeberg_Power_Station.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iaea.org/PRIS/CountryStatistics/CountryDetails.aspx?current=ZA|title=IAEA PRIS – Country Details – South Africa|access-date=30 April 2015}}</ref>
|-
|[[Ncora Dam]]
|Eastern Cape
|[[Hydroelectricity|Hydroelectric]]
|1972
|2.1
|Operational
|<ref name="eskom-ar-2006-3">{{cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/annreport06/tables3.htm|title=Annual Report 2006 (Chapter 3)|publisher=Eskom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103104306/http://www.eskom.co.za/annreport06/tables3.htm|archive-date=3 January 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=12 January 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Palmiet Pumped Storage Scheme]]
|Western Cape
|[[Hydroelectricity|Hydroelectric]]
|1988
|400
|Operational
|<ref name="iha-palmiet">{{cite web|url=http://www.hydropower.org/blue_planet_prize/palmiet_pumped_storage_scheme.html|title=Palmiet Pumped Storage Scheme|publisher=[[International Hydropower Association]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107061528/http://www.hydropower.org/blue_planet_prize/palmiet_pumped_storage_scheme.html|archive-date=7 January 2009|url-status=dead|access-date=7 January 2010}}</ref><ref name="eskom-palmiet-glossy">{{cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/content/Palmiet%20FA%20Pg%2001-08.pdf|title=Palmiet Pumped Storage Scheme|date=October 2005|publisher=Eskom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610062221/http://www.eskom.co.za/content/Palmiet%20FA%20Pg%2001-08.pdf|archive-date=10 June 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=9 January 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Sere Wind Farm]]
|Western Cape
|[[Wind power|Wind]]
|Jan 2015
|100
|Operational
|<ref name="sa-to-get-3rd-wind-farm">{{cite web|url=http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/infrastructure/sa_to_get_third_wind_farm__3.html|title=SA to get third wind farm|date=29 March 2009|publisher=South Africa: The Good News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509190441/http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/infrastructure/sa_to_get_third_wind_farm__3.html|archive-date=9 May 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=21 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/c/article/1901/renewable-energy-projects/|title=Renewable Energy Projects|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130824150646/http://www.eskom.co.za/c/article/1901/renewable-energy-projects/|archive-date=24 August 2013|url-status=dead|access-date=24 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://eskom.ensight-cdn.com/content/Sere%20Wind.pdf|title=Renewable Energy: Sere wind farm|access-date=24 August 2013}}{{dead link|date=January 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/Whatweredoing/NewBuild/Pages/Renewable_Energy.aspx|title=Renewable Energy - Sere wind farm project|website=eskom.co.za|access-date=2015-09-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221041545/http://www.eskom.co.za/Whatweredoing/NewBuild/Pages/Renewable_Energy.aspx|archive-date=21 December 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|[[Vanderkloof Dam]]
|Northern Cape
|[[Hydroelectricity|Hydroelectric]]
|1977
|240
|Operational
|
|}

===Future projects===
Eskom has a number of planned infrastructure projects to further expand electrical production.
* Tubatse Pumped Storage Scheme – 1500MWe
* Wind 500 – 550MWe
* Tasakoolo Wind farm 200 – 200Mwe

=== Investment in renewables ===
As of October 2019 Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd issued a tender to introduce 20 three-phase KW inverters and mountains structures. These structures are planned to distribute power to four power plants, and would introduce Eskom into the solar energy market. The African Investment Forum has announced that it has raised over $40.1 billion in investment into developing new infrastructure, related to renewable energies.<ref>{{Cite book|date=April 2019|publisher=IEEE|pages=i|doi=10.1109/icnsurv.2019.8735411|isbn=978-1-72811-893-2|doi-access=free |chapter=ICNS Workshop 2019 - Global Aeronautical Distress & Safety System (GADSS): What You Need to Know |title=2019 Integrated Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Conference (ICNS) }}</ref> This is aimed to help distance itself from Eskom coal power plants, and to focus more on wind and solar developments. The African investment forum is backed up by corporate organizations and lenders, private donors, and the African Development Bank.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=January 2019|title=AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK: Africa Investment Forum|journal=Africa Research Bulletin: Economic, Financial and Technical Series|volume=55|issue=11|pages=22365B–22367A|doi=10.1111/j.1467-6346.2018.08659.x|s2cid=239401112|issn=0001-9852}}</ref> These new inverters would be align with South Africa's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP).{{Citation needed|date=December 2019}}

Eskom signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Exxaro in April 2025, in relation to the former's intention to decarbonize.<ref name= "Eskom kicks off green hydrogen plans">{{cite web|url= https://mybroadband.co.za/news/energy/595761-eskom-kicks-off-green-hydrogen-plans.html |title= Eskom kicks off green hydrogen plans|author= Staff Writer |publisher= MyBroadband |date= 21 May 2025 |access-date= 17 November 2024 }}</ref>

In May 2025, Eskom issued an invitation for companies to tender for the construction of a pilot renewable green [[hydrogen]] facility (RHF) at its Johannesburg Research, Testing and Development (RT&D) unit. The company stated that developing renewable green hydrogen production capacity was a key priority in its mission to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 in South Africa. During the same announcement, Eskom confirmed that it is also accelerating the establishment of a separate renewable energy business.<ref name= "Eskom kicks off green hydrogen plans" />

==== South Africa's integrated resource plan ====
The IRP supports a diverse energy mix with policy aimed to help aim to meet the need of South Africa's energy goals. The Integrated Resource Plan supports electrical infrastructure developments with an aim focused on [[renewable energy sources]].<ref>{{Cite book|date=April 2019|publisher=IEEE|pages=i|doi=10.1109/icnsurv.2019.8735411|isbn=978-1-72811-893-2|doi-access=free |chapter=ICNS Workshop 2019 - Global Aeronautical Distress & Safety System (GADSS): What You Need to Know |title=2019 Integrated Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Conference (ICNS) }}</ref> These new investments are directed towards more high efficiency, low emission standards with an emphasis on solar technologies in which 6,000 MW of new Solar PV capabilities and 14,400 MW of new wind power technologies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr - The Integrated Resource Plan 2019: A promising future roadmap for generation capacity in South Africa |url=https://www.cliffedekkerhofmeyr.com/en/news/publications/2019/Corporate/energy-alert-22-october-The-Integrated-Resource-Plan-2019-A-promising-future-roadmap-for-generation-capacity-in-South-Africa.html |access-date=2022-05-22 |website=www.cliffedekkerhofmeyr.com}}</ref> With renewable energies, the IRP plans to increase its investment in hydro-electric power.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-28 |title=South Africa's Integrated Resource Plan affirms coal power is set to be replaced by renewables |url=https://www.power-technology.com/comment/south-africas-integrated-resource-plan-renewables/ |access-date=2022-05-22 |website=Power Technology |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Investment in renewables, hydro, wind, solar ====
With failing power plants and coal not working as a viable solution, progress towards a greener future is in sight for South Africa. In agreement to the Paris Agreement, South Africa needs to reduce its carbon emission and cut-back from being dependent on Coal. There is new US$11 Billion Green-Energy Initiative aimed at the development of solar and wind. This new initiative would allow loans to Eskom and below commercial rates on conditions that it would accelerate its closure of power plants and to start building renewable energy structures.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-09-16|title=$11 Billion Green-Energy Initiative Takes Shape in South Africa|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-16/-11-billion-green-energy-initiative-takes-shape-in-south-africa|access-date=2019-12-15|website=Bloomberg.com}}</ref> This plan takes the steps in moving away from coal, and investing in alternative methods that better suit their needs for the future.{{Citation needed|date=December 2019}}

=== Other infrastructure ===
In 2002, Eskom was issued a network operator licence. It embarked on a $100 million project installing [[fibre optic cable]]s on 10 000 kilometres of its existing power lines for the purpose of real-time monitoring of the electrical network; 80% consists of all-dielectric lashed cabling and 10% [[All-dielectric self-supporting cable|All-dielectric self-supporting cabling]]. It currently has the sixth most [[Autonomous System Number|ASN]] prefixes of all registered network operator licensees.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Marshall |first=E. |chapter=Fibre optic roll out on Eskom transmission system |date=2003 |title=2003 IEEE 10th International Conference on Transmission and Distribution Construction, Operation and Live-Line Maintenance, 2003. 2003 IEEE ESMO |journal=[[IEEE]] |publisher=IEEE |pages=50–57 |doi=10.1109/TDCLLM.2003.1196468 |isbn=978-0-7803-7917-6|s2cid=108500506 }}</ref>

== Corporate affairs ==
[[File:Eskom board at cape town.jpg|thumb|Eskom executives including Phakamani Hadebe (CEO), front row second from the left, and Jan Oberholzer (CTO), front row far left, at a 2019 public forum in Cape Town on Eskom's financial situation.]]

In 2011 eight out of ten Eskom board members were controversially sacked by the Zuma administration.<ref name=":20">{{Cite web|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2011-06-10-gigaba-wields-the-axe/|title=Behind the Eskom purge|last=Donnelly|first=Lynley|website=The M&G Online|date=10 June 2011 |language=en|access-date=2018-12-20}}</ref> From 2015 to 2017 the Zuma administration appointed [[Ben Ngubane]] as chairperson of the board. [[Brian Molefe]] was appointed by Zuma as Eskom CEO from April 2015 to November 2016. Molefe<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biznews.com/global-citizen/2018/02/02/brian-molefe-renewable-energy|title=Revealed! How Brian Molefe sabotaged SA's world-class renewables industry|date=2018-02-02|website=BizNews.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-12-26|archive-date=26 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226143923/https://www.biznews.com/global-citizen/2018/02/02/brian-molefe-renewable-energy|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Ngubane's<ref name=":26">{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2018-07-31-former-eskom-exec-ben-ngubane-wanted-papers-blacklisted/|title=Former Eskom chair Ben Ngubane 'wanted papers blacklisted'|website=businesslive.co.za|date=31 July 2018 |language=en|access-date=2019-02-16}}</ref> tenure was controversial for their involvement with the [[Gupta family]] and for allegedly allowing the company to become a vehicle for [[state capture]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qz.com/africa/835326/eskom-ceo-brian-molefe-resigns-following-corruption-implications-in-south-africas-state-capture-report/|title=South Africa's "state capture" corruption report claimed its first high-ranking casualty|last=Chutel|first=Lynsey|website=Quartz Africa|date=11 November 2016 |language=en|access-date=2019-12-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biznews.com/undictated/2017/02/27/pityana-molefe-state-capture-democracy|title=Pityana to Molefe; 'Foolishly opted to be state capture tool rather than instrument of democracy'|date=2017-02-27|website=BizNews.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-12-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2019-04-02-corruption-watch-wants-molefe-and-former-eskom-board-members-to-never-again-be-directors-of-a-soe/|title=Corruption Watch wants Molefe and former Eskom board members to never again be directors of an SOE|website=TimesLIVE|date=2 April 2019 |language=en-ZA|access-date=2019-12-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/state-capture/2221687/molefe-among-eskom-transnet-executives-facing-arrest-in-january/|title=Molefe among Eskom, Transnet executives facing arrest in January|website=citizen.co.za|date=22 December 2019 |access-date=2019-12-26}}</ref> Ngubane also controversially attempted to blacklist newspapers perceived as unfriendly to Eskom.<ref name=":26" /> During parliament's state capture inquiry in 2017 former Eskom chairperson Zola Tsotsi (2012–2015) testified that Gupta family member Tony Gupta made threats against Tsotsi allegedly stating that Tsotsi will lose his job as he was not 'helping' the Guptas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fin24.com/Economy/Eskom/ex-eskom-chair-zola-tsotsi-testifies-how-guptas-threatened-him-20171122|title=Ex-Eskom chair Zola Tsotsi testifies how Guptas threatened him|last=le Cordeur|first=Matthew|date=2017-11-22|website=Fin24|access-date=2019-02-16}}</ref> In December 2016, [[Matshela Koko]], former head of generation for Eskom, was named as acting CEO.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/companies/energy/2016-12-01-matshela-koko-takes-reins-at-eskom-as-acting-ce/|title=Matshela Koko takes reins at Eskom as acting CE|access-date=2017-04-03|language=en-US}}</ref> He resigned in 2018 after being implicated in awarding contracts to a company linked to his stepdaughter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2018-02-16-eskoms-matshela-koko-resigns/|title=Eskom's Matshela Koko resigns|date=16 February 2018|website=businesslive.co.za|language=en|access-date=2019-02-12}}</ref> Koko, along with his wife and stepdaughter, were arrested in October 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cowan |first=Pieter du Toit and Kyle |title=Former Eskom boss Matshela Koko, wife and stepdaughter arrested on charges of corruption |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/investigations/breaking-hawks-arrest-former-eskom-boss-matshela-koko-wife-and-stepdaughter-on-charges-of-corruption-20221027 |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref> In early 2018, following the establishment of the Ramaphosa government, multiple members of the Eskom board and executive team were replaced by government due to allegations of corruption and mismanagement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fin24.com/Economy/gordhan-appoints-hadebe-eskom-ceo-in-sweeping-soe-board-changes-20180524|title=Gordhan appoints Phakamani Hadebe Eskom CEO in sweeping SOE board changes|date=2018-05-24|website=Fin24|access-date=2019-02-01}}</ref>

[[Phakamani Hadebe]] was made acting CEO and director of Eskom in May 2018 as part of President Ramaphosa's replacement of the company's executive team.<ref name="fin">{{Cite web |url=https://www.fin24.com/Economy/gordhan-appoints-hadebe-eskom-ceo-in-sweeping-soe-board-changes-20180524 |title=Gordhan appoints Phakamani Hadebe Eskom CEO in sweeping SOE board changes |date=2018-05-24 |website=Fin24 |access-date=2019-01-14}}</ref>  A year into his term as CEO Hadebe resigned citing poor health and the difficult circumstances of the job.<ref name=":10000">{{Cite web|url=https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/companies/eskom-head-hadebe-quits-toxic-job-24180745|title=Eskom head Hadebe quits 'toxic' job {{!}} IOL Business Report|last=Mkhawanazi|first=Siyabonga|date=26 May 2019|website=iol.co.za|language=en|access-date=2019-05-29}}</ref> His resignation sparked a debate amongst political parties over the difficult state of managing the financially strained state owned company<ref name=":0" /> as well as the lack of political cover he was given to deal with labour unions and tackle corruption.<ref name=":mgHadebe">{{Cite web|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2019-05-29-eskom-the-art-of-steering-a-sinking-ship/|title=Eskom: The art of steering a sinking ship|last=Donnelly|first=Lynley|website=The M&G Online|date=29 May 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-05-29}}</ref>

Six months after Hadebe's departure, former [[Nampak]] Chief Executive<ref>{{Citation |title=Who's Who |date=2007-12-01 |chapter=Goodwin, Frederick Anderson, (born 17 Aug. 1958), Chief Executive, Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, 2000–08 (Deputy Group Chief Executive, 1998–2000); Senior Adviser, RMJM, 2009–11 |publisher=Oxford University Press |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.17529}}</ref> [[André de Ruyter]] was appointed CEO of Eskom.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fin24.com/Economy/eskom-ceo-appointment-met-with-surprise-skepticism-20191118|title=Eskom CEO appointment met with surprise, scepticism|date=2019-11-18|website=Fin24|access-date=2019-11-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/south-africa/nampaks-andre-de-ruyter-appointed-as-eskom-ceo/|title=Nampak's Andre de Ruyter appointed as Eskom CEO|date=2019-11-18|website=Moneyweb|access-date=2019-11-28}}</ref>  De Ruyter's appointment was criticised by the [[Economic Freedom Fighters|EFF]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.enca.com/news/eff-rejects-de-ruyters-appointment-as-eskom-ceo|title=EFF rejects de Ruyter's appointment as Eskom CEO|website=eNCA|language=en|access-date=2019-11-28}}</ref> and factions within the [[African National Congress|ANC]] who instead wanted a [[Bantu peoples in South Africa|black]] CEO appointed to the position.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-11-18-questions-arise-after-new-eskom-ceo-is-named/|title=ESKOM'S SURPRISE BOSS: Questions arise after new Eskom CEO is named|last=Merten|first=Marianne|website=Daily Maverick|date=18 November 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-11-28}}</ref> De Ruyter resigned in December 2022 after repeated attacks on him by [[Gwede Mantashe]], [[Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mills |first=Ray Hartley and Greg |date=2022-12-14 |title=ENERGY CRISIS OP-ED: De Ruyter resignation — tripping the light fantastic |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-12-14-de-ruyter-resignation-tripping-the-light-fantastic/ |access-date=2022-12-15 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-15 |title=Gordhan calls out Mantashe's bizarre accusations, applauds De Ruyter's efforts at Eskom |url=https://mg.co.za/news/2022-12-15-gordhan-calls-out-mantashes-bizarre-accusations-applauds-de-ruyters-efforts-at-eskom/ |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Diemen |first=Ethan van |date=2022-12-14 |title=NEWSFLASH: Eskom CEO André de Ruyter resigns |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-12-14-eskom-ceo-andre-de-ruyter-resigns/ |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}</ref> partly due to de Ruyter's advocacy for replacing coal with [[Renewable energy|renewables]] as an energy source.<ref name=":52">{{Cite news |last=Pilling |first=David |date=2023-03-02 |title=Scandal at South Africa's Eskom: the CEO and the cyanide-laced coffee |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/5fe8291d-9895-4272-9e0a-eefa279116f4 |access-date=2023-03-08}}</ref> [[News24 (website)|News24]] reported that he was not given the support needed to succeed in the position.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cowan |first=Kyle |title=Eskom sabotage: How De Ruyter was undermined by new board, excluded from meetings, forced to resign |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/investigations/eskom-sabotage-how-de-ruyter-was-undermined-by-new-board-excluded-from-meetings-forced-to-resign-20221215-2 |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref> Shortly after the announcement that de Ruyter would be leaving Eskom it was reported that he survived a poisoning attempt after he unknowingly drank a cup of coffee at his office that was laced with [[Cyanide poisoning|cyanide]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Staff |date=2023-01-08 |title=South Africa police investigate alleged plot to poison CEO with cyanide |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/08/south-africa-police-investigate-alleged-plot-poison-eskom-ceo-andre-de-ruyter |access-date=2023-03-08 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

=== Financials ===
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto;"
!
!2011<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|url=http://financialresults.co.za/2011/eskom_ar2011/downloads/eskom-ar2011.pdf|title=Integrated Annual Report 2011 |website=financialresults.co.za|access-date=2018-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317024931/http://financialresults.co.za/2011/eskom_ar2011/downloads/eskom-ar2011.pdf |archive-date=2012-03-17 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
!2012<ref name=":1"/>
!2013<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eskom.co.za/OurCompany/Investors/IntegratedReports/Documents/2013/fullRepoert2013.pdf|title=Integrated Annual Report 2013|website=Eskom|access-date=20 December 2018}}</ref>
!2014<ref name=":2"/>
!2015<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eskom.co.za/IR2015/Documents/EskomIR2015single.pdf|title=Integrated Annual Report 2015|website=Eskom|access-date=20 December 2018}}</ref>
!2016<ref name=":3"/>
!2017<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eskom.co.za/IR2017/Documents/Eskom_integrated_report_2017.pdf|title=Integrated Annual Report 2017|website=Eskom|access-date=20 December 2018}}</ref>
!2018<ref name=":16">{{Cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/IR2018/Documents/Eskom2018IntegratedReport.pdf|title=Integrated Annual Report 2018|website=Eskom|access-date=21 December 2018}}</ref>
!2019<ref name=":22">{{Cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/IR2019/Documents/Eskom_2019_integrated_report.pdf|title=Integrated Annual Report 2019|date=July 2019|website=Eskom|access-date=2 August 2019}}</ref>
!2020<ref name=":168">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eskom.co.za/IR2021/Documents/2021IntegratedReport.pdf|title=Integrated Annual Report 2021|website=Eskom|date=15 January 2021 |access-date=1 September 2021}}</ref>
!2021<ref name=":168"/>
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |Revenue ([[South African rand|R]] billion)
|91.45
|114.8
|128.9
|138.3
|147.7
|164.2
|177.1
|177.4
|179.8
|199.5
!204.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Operating profit]] (R billion)
|14.5
|22.3
|3.99
|13.2
|11.1
|15.7
|15.5
|20.5
|{{color|red|−1.77}}
|4.41
!6.68
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Net income]] (R billion)
|8.36
|13.2
|5.18
|7.09
|3.62
|5.15
|0.88
|{{color|red|−2.33}}
|{{color|red|−20.7}}
|{{color|red|−20.8}}
!{{color|red|−18.9}}
|-
|Total debt (R billion)
|160.3
|182.6
|202.9
|254.8
|297.4
|322.7
|355.3
|388.7
|440.6
|483.7
!401.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |Employee benefit expenses (R billion)
|16.7
|20.2
|23.6
|25.6
|25.9
|29.2
|33.1
|29.4
|33.3
|33.2
!32.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |Number of employees
|41,778
|43,473
|46,266
|46,919
|46,490
|47,978
|47,658
|48,628
|46,665
|44,772
!42,749
|-
|Electrical output capacity ([[GWh]])
|237,430
|237,414
|232,228
|231,129
|226,300
|238,599
|220,166
|221,936
|218,939
|214,968
!201,400
|}
In 2018 and 2019 Eskom's negative financial situation became serious as costs started exceeding income and the company started experiencing trouble raising money.  For 72 hours between 26 March and 29 March 2019 it was reported that Eskom had run out of funds thereby threatening to negatively impact the broader South African economy. The situation was alleviated once Eskom secured a R3 billion commercial loan which was paid back on 2 April after the Reserve Bank disbursed R5 billion to Eskom through an emergency provision.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-04-25-72-hours-in-late-march-when-eskom-pushed-south-africa-to-the-edge-of-financial-collapse/|title=ANALYSIS: 72 hours in late March: When Eskom pushed South Africa to the edge of financial collapse|last=Merten|first=Marianne|website=Daily Maverick|date=24 April 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-04-25}}</ref> In July 2019 Eskom announced a loss of R20.7 billion due to the cost of servicing high levels of debt, the increased cost of primary energy and unpaid municipal debts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/energy/coal-black-cloud-over-eskoms-big-loss-30084151|title=Coal black cloud over Eskom's big loss|last=KHUMALO|first=KABELO|date=31 July 2019|website=iol.co.za|language=en|access-date=2019-08-02}}</ref>

==== Debt ====
In late 2016, [[Standard & Poor's|Standard & Poor's Global Ratings]] downgraded Eskom's [[Bond credit rating|credit rating]] further into subinvestment grade cutting its long-term credit rating to BB – two levels below the investment threshold.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFKBN13K22E|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126145035/http://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFKBN13K22E|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-11-26|title=S&P's downgrades South Africa's Eskom further into junk territory|work=Reuters|access-date=2017-04-03}}</ref> By 2017 increasing levels of debt and corruption scandals affecting the company has led investment bank [[Goldman Sachs]] to declare Eskom as being the "biggest risk to South Africa’s economy."  The company had R413 billion in debt and planned to raise an additional R340 billion (US$26 billion) by 2022 thereby representing eight percent of South Africa's GDP.  R218.2 billion of the company's debt consist of [[government guarantee]]s.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/economy/goldman-sachs-sees-eskom-as-biggest-risk-to-sa-economy/|title=Goldman Sachs sees Eskom as biggest risk to SA economy|last1=Bonorchis|first1=Renee|date=2017-09-22|work=Moneyweb|access-date=2017-09-23|last2=Burkhardt|first2=Paul|language=en-US}}</ref> Exacerbating the company's financial situation was a recorded R3 billion worth of irregular expenditures in 2017.<ref name=":0" />

On 28 March 2018 [[Moody's Investors Service]] downgraded Eskom's credit rating to B2 from B1 stating that it was concerned with "the lack of any tangible financial support for the company in the February state budget".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/business/2018-03-29-eskoms-credit-rating-blow/|title=Eskom's credit rating blow|last=Laing|first=Robert|date=29 March 2018|work=Sunday Times|access-date=2018-03-31|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329105952/https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/business/2018-03-29-eskoms-credit-rating-blow/|archive-date=2018-03-29|language=en-ZA}}</ref>

On 24 November 2020, Moody's further downgraded Eskom's long-term credit rating to Caa1.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.moodys.com/research/Moodys-downgrades-Eskoms-ratings-maintains-negative-outlook--PR_436580|title=Rating Action: Moody's downgrades Eskom's ratings; maintains negative outlook|date=24 November 2020|work=Moody's Investors Service|access-date=17 November 2021}}</ref> This places Eskom's credit within the [[Moody's Investors Service#Moody's credit ratings|"speculative grade"]] of investment, with a "very high credit risk".

Due to the company's large size and important role as the region's primary energy producer President Ramaphosa stated that Eskom was "[[too big to fail]]" as the reason why government had to continue to fund it despite its serious financial situation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fin24.com/Economy/eskom-too-big-to-fail-and-wont-be-privatised-ramaphosa-tells-invetsors-20190515|title=Eskom 'too big to fail' and won't be privatised, Ramaphosa tells investors|last=Chabalala|first=Jeanette|date=2019-05-15|website=Fin24|access-date=2019-08-10}}</ref>

In February 2023, with debt sitting at R423 billion, the South African government announced that, subject to approval from existing debt holders, it would be providing support worth R254 billion, including interest payments for the following three years and three capital payments of R78-billion in 2023/24, R66 billion in 2024/25 and R40-billion in 2025/26, with the intention to reduce Eskom's overall debt to R300 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mahlaka |first=Ray |date=2023-02-22 |title=BUDGET 2023: Government comes to Eskom's rescue by taking over R254bn of its debt |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-02-22-government-comes-to-eskoms-rescue-by-taking-over-r254bn-of-its-debt/ |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}</ref>

===== Chinese debt =====
In July 2018 it was announced that Eskom had taken out a R33 billion loan from the Chinese government owned [[China Development Bank]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fin24.com/Economy/Eskom/eskom-inks-r334bn-loan-deal-with-china-development-bank-20180724|title=Eskom inks R33.4bn loan deal with China Development Bank|last=Khumalo|first=Sibongile|date=2018-07-24|website=Fin24|access-date=2019-01-02}}</ref> The loan conditions were controversially<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fin24.com/Economy/terms-of-chinese-loan-to-eskom-confidential-says-ramaphosa-20180911|title=Terms of Chinese loan to Eskom still confidential, says Ramaphosa|last=Magubane|first=Khulekani|date=2018-09-11|website=Fin24|access-date=2019-01-02}}</ref> not made public with accusations that it was an example of [[debt-trap diplomacy]] by China.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/eskom-urged-to-divulge-r33bn-loan-terms-with-china-bank-17684405|title=Eskom urged to divulge R33bn loan terms with China bank {{!}} IOL News|last=Maqhina|first=Mayibongwe|date=29 October 2018|website=iol.co.za|language=en|access-date=2019-01-02}}</ref> During the [[Zondo Commission|Zondo Commission of Inquiry]] into state corruption a senior Eskom executive stated that an additional R25 billion loan from the China-based company Huarong Energy Africa was improperly and controversially taken out by Eskom.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2019-03-04-eskom-deceived-sa-reserve-bank-on-r25bn-chinese-loan-says-senior-company-official/|title=Eskom deceived SA Reserve Bank on R25bn Chinese loan, says senior company official|website=businesslive.co.za|date=4 March 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-03-21}}</ref> After the loan had been issued Eskom chairperson Jabu Mabuza stated to the Zondo Commission that Eskom would not be repaying the Huarong loan due to irregularities and corruption involved in the issuing of the loan.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/statecaptureinquiry-mabuza-says-eskom-wont-pay-back-r25bn-huarong-loan-19450472|title=#StateCaptureInquiry: Mabuza says Eskom won't pay back R25bn Huarong loan {{!}} IOL News|website=iol.co.za|language=en|access-date=2019-03-21|last1=Dludla |first1=Siphelele }}</ref>

== Controversies ==


=== Racism === 
Eskom responds to questions about excluding white males from senior management shortlist <ref>{{Cite web|title= Eskom responds to questions about excluding white males from senior management shortlist |url= https://mybroadband.co.za/news/energy/618158-eskom-responds-to-questions-about-excluding-white-males-from-senior-management-shortlist.html }}</ref>


=== Municipal debts ===
A number of South African municipalities are in significant arrears in paying Eskom for electricity supplied to them. The large amount owed to Eskom has caused significant controversy given the state utilities financial difficulties and repeated periods of load-shedding.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-02-04-soweto-trends-as-mzansi-fumes-about-load-shedding-they-must-pay-for-electricity/|title=Soweto trends as Mzansi fumes about load-shedding: 'They must pay for electricity'|website=TimesLIVE|date=4 February 2020 |language=en-ZA|access-date=2020-02-15}}</ref> By January 2020 South African municipalities owed Eskom a total of roughly R43 billion<ref name=":27">{{Cite web|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2020-01-30-cosatu-has-a-plan-to-save-eskom/|title=Cosatu has a plan to save Eskom|date=2020-01-29|website=The Mail & Guardian|language=en-ZA|access-date=2020-02-15}}</ref> (equivalent to US$2.88 billion). This had increased to R49.1 billion by July 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Magubane |first=Khulekani |title=Municipal debt to Eskom surged by R5 billion in just four months, Mabuza warns |url=https://www.news24.com/fin24/economy/municipal-debt-to-eskom-surged-by-r5-billion-in-just-four-months-mabuza-warns-20220818 |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Fin24 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Soweto ====
The single largest South African municipality to owe Eskom for unpaid electricity is the [[City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality]] in which Soweto owes R13 billion<ref name=":28">{{Cite web|url=https://ewn.co.za/2019/11/04/analysis-does-soweto-owe-eskom-r18-billion-in-unpaid-electricity|title=FACT CHECK: Does Soweto owe Eskom R18 billion in unpaid electricity?|last=Check|first=Africa|website=ewn.co.za|language=en|access-date=2020-02-15}}</ref> to R16.4 billion<ref name=":27" /> in 2019. In response, Eskom initiated a process of cutting off electricity to debtors in the city, which resulted in violent public protests.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/protests-over-power-cuts-disrupt-morning-traffic-in-soweto-20200203|title=Protests over power cuts disrupt morning traffic in Soweto|date=2020-02-03|website=News24|language=en|access-date=2020-02-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fin24.com/Economy/do-not-wait-to-get-caught-eskom-continues-cutting-power-to-non-paying-users-in-gauteng-20200130|title='Do not wait to get caught': Eskom continues cutting power to non-paying users in Gauteng|date=2020-01-30|website=Fin24|access-date=2020-02-15}}</ref> The city has a history of non-payment dating back to the 1980s when non-payment was used as a form of non-violent protest against [[apartheid]] era policies.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Chaskalson|first1=Matthew|last2=Jochelson|first2=Karen|last3=Seekings|first3=Jeremy|date=1987|title=Rent Boycotts, the State, and the Transformation of the Urban Political Economy in South Africa|journal=Review of African Political Economy|volume=14|issue=40|pages=47–64|doi=10.1080/03056248708703748|jstor=4005798|issn=0305-6244|doi-access=free}}</ref> This is thought to have cultivated a culture of non-payment.<ref name=":28" />

=== Zimbabwe Power Exports ===
300MW of power are exported to Zimbabwe in a deal valued at US$2 million a month.
At the end of November 2019 it was revealed that Zimbabwe owed $22 million in debt to Eskom (about 11 months in arrears). Despite statements that Eskom continues to supply Zimbabwe during scheduled blackouts,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Head|first=Tom|date=11 December 2019|title=Zimbabwe Receiving "Uninterrupted Power Supply" from Eskom|url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/zimbabwe/how-much-electricity-eskom-send-zimbabwe-why/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025172544/https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/zimbabwe/how-much-electricity-eskom-send-zimbabwe-why/|archive-date=25 October 2020|access-date=8 November 2021|website=The South African}}</ref> electricity is only supplied if Eskom does not need it.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Banya |first=Nelson |date=2019-12-11 |title=Is Zimbabwe getting uninterrupted power from Eskom, despite SA's load-shedding? |url=https://zimfact.org/zimbabwe-eskom-load-shedding/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=ZimFact |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=cfeditoren |date=2019-12-12 |title=Eskom To Export Electricity To Zimbabwe Only If It Is Available |url=https://www.africa-press.net/zimbabwe/all-news/eskom-to-export-electricity-to-zimbabwe-only-if-it-is-available |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=zimbabwe |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Power shortage: 2007 - ongoing ===
{{See also|South African energy crisis}}
[[File:DA 2019 election poster eskom.jpg|thumb|An election poster referring to the Eskom energy crisis in the run up to the 2019 general election.]]In the later months of 2007, South Africa started experiencing widespread [[rolling blackout]]s as supply fell behind demand, threatening to destabilise the national grid. With a reserve margin estimated at 8% or below,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mg.co.za/article/2008-02-11-expect-tight-energy-supply-for-four-years|title=Expect Tight Energy Supply for Four Years|last=Hartleb|first=Thomas|date=11 February 2008|website=Mail & Guardian|access-date=25 July 2016}}</ref> such "load shedding" is implemented whenever generating units are taken offline for maintenance, repairs or re-fuelling (in the case of nuclear units). From February 2008 to November 2014 blackouts were temporarily halted due to reduced demand and maintenance stabilization.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/45a3b38046766ae6966e9665674106c3/Eskom-promises-no-repeat-of-2008-load-shedding-crisis-20141206 |title=Archived copy |access-date=3 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403202010/http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/45a3b38046766ae6966e9665674106c3/Eskom-promises-no-repeat-of-2008-load-shedding-crisis-20141206 |archive-date=3 April 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> This drop in demand was caused by many of the country's mines shutting down or slowing to help alleviate the burden.

Load shedding was reintroduced in early November 2014. The Majuba power plant lost its capacity to generate power after a collapse of one of its coal storage silos on 1 November 2014. The Majuba power plant delivered approximately 10% of the country's entire capacity and the collapse halted the delivery of coal to the plant.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gibbs|first=JeVanne|date=4 November 2014|title=Watch Majuba Power Station Seconds Before Silo Collapse (Video)|work=The Citizen|url=http://citizen.co.za/269093/video-majuba-power-station-seconds-silo-collapse/|url-status=dead|access-date=6 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211040447/http://citizen.co.za/269093/video-majuba-power-station-seconds-silo-collapse/|archive-date=11 December 2014}}</ref> A second silo developed a major crack on 20 November causing the shut down of the plant again, this after temporary measures were instituted to deliver coal to the plant.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://citizen.co.za/269093/video-majuba-power-station-seconds-silo-collapse/|title=Eskom admits another coal-storage silo at Majuba is cracked|date=21 November 2014|work=Business day live|access-date=6 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211040447/http://citizen.co.za/269093/video-majuba-power-station-seconds-silo-collapse/|archive-date=11 December 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2016, Eskom said that unplanned outages had been reduced. In May 2016, former president Jacob Zuma said assurances had been given to him by Eskom management.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.fin24.com/Economy/Eskom/sunday-read-load-shedding-through-the-years-and-how-eskom-has-struggled-to-keep-the-lights-on-20190324|title=Sunday Read: Load shedding through the years and how Eskom has struggled to keep the lights on|date=24 March 2019|website=Fin24}}</ref>

In June 2018, there was Stage 1 load shedding along with a strike over wages.<ref name="auto"/>

In February 2019, a new round of load shedding began due to the failure of coal burning boilers at some power stations due to poor quality coal. This resulted in long running periods of level 4 load shedding across the country in mid-March 2019, including night-time load shedding<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ewn.co.za/2019/03/18/eskom-load-shedding-at-crisis-levels-says-energy-expert|title=Eskom load shedding at crisis levels, says energy expert|last=Dlulane|first=Bonga|website=ewn.co.za|language=en|access-date=2019-03-19}}</ref> and promised to report back.<ref name="auto"/> The situation at Eskom and resulting energy crisis became a political issue during the [[2019 South African general election]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/eskoms-nine-circles-of-hell-and-election-politics/ar-BBVgCdR|title=Eskom's nine circles of hell, and election politics|website=msn.com|access-date=2019-04-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-03-27-eskoms-nine-circles-of-hell-and-election-politics/|title=ANALYSIS: Eskom's nine circles of hell, and election politics|last=Merten|first=Marianne|website=Daily Maverick|date=26 March 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-04-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://city-press.news24.com/News/eskom-was-told-to-keep-the-lights-on-at-all-costs-until-elections-20190401|title=Eskom was told to keep the lights on at all costs until elections|last=Modjadji|first=Ngwako|date=2019-04-01|website=CityPress|language=en|access-date=2019-04-05}}</ref>

==== Sabotage ====
In December 2019, load shedding reached a new high as Eskom introduced stage 6 load shedding for the first time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wet |first=Phillip de |title=Eskom is now rationing electricity at stage 6 – here's what that means |url=https://www.businessinsider.co.za/what-is-stage-6-load-shedding-eskom-levels-2019-12 |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Businessinsider |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Cyril Ramaphosa]] faced criticism as his departure for Egypt was announced shortly after the move to stage 6.<ref>{{Cite web |title=As SA gets stage 6 load-shedding, Ramaphosa prepares to head to Egypt |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2019-12-09-as-sa-gets-stage-6-load-shedding-ramaphosa-prepares-to-head-to-egypt/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=TimesLIVE |date=9 December 2019 |language=en-ZA}}</ref> He returned early to address the problem, meeting on 11 December with the Eskom board. Ramaphosa then announced that there had been an element of [[sabotage]] involved, leading to the loss of 2000MW capacity. Ramaphosa faced criticism on social media, with many blaming incompetence rather than sabotage.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/ramaphosa-slammed-after-blaming-sabotage-for-eskom-loadshedding-crisis-39084400|title=Ramaphosa slammed after blaming sabotage for Eskom loadshedding crisis &#124; IOL News|website=iol.co.za}}</ref>

On 19 November 2021, Eskom announced that an initial forensic investigation found evidence that recent damage to a coal conveyor at Lethabo was the result of deliberate sabotage. Steel supports had been severed, causing a power supply pylon to collapse.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/investigations/eskomfiles/breaking-eskom-finds-evidence-of-sabotage-at-lethabo-power-station-pylon-supports-were-cut-20211119|title=Eskom finds evidence of sabotage at Lethabo Power Station - pylon supports were cut|date=19 November 2021|first=Kyle|last=Cowan|website=News24|access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-11-19-andre-de-ruyter-deliberate-acts-of-sabotage-are-causing-power-cuts/|title=André de Ruyter: Deliberate acts of sabotage are causing power cuts|date=19 November 2021|first=Ferial|last=Haffajee|website=Daily Maverick|access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref> In a media briefing, de Ruyter commented that the matter had been referred to the [[Hawks (South Africa)|Hawks]] for further investigation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2021-11-19-eskom-finds-evidence-of-sabotage-at-lethabo-power-station/|title=Eskom finds evidence of sabotage at Lethabo Power Station|date=19 November 2021|first=Shonisani|last=Tshikalange|website=TimesLIVE|access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref> In May 2022 the Minister for Public Enterprises, [[Pravin Gordhan]], reported to Parliament that additional incidents of cables being cut intentionally by saboteurs, rising theft at its power plants, and corruption around the supply of fuel oil, had greatly worsened the energy crisis and Eskom's ability to resolve it.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-20 |title=Saboteurs threaten South Africa's power supply |url=https://techcentral.co.za/saboteurs-threaten-south-africas-power-supply/211374/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=TechCentral |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Corruption ===

==== 2017 corruption scandal ====
{{See also|Gupta family}}
Eskom was forced to suspend its chief financial officer Anoj Singh in July 2017 when the [[Development Bank of South Africa]] threatened to recall a R15 billion loan if no action was taken against Eskom officials (including Singh) who were involved in corruption allegations involving the [[Gupta family]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2017-07-27-breaking-eskom-suspends-gupta-linked-cfo-anoj-singh/|title=Eskom suspends Gupta-linked finance chief Anoj Singh|last1=Skiti|first1=Sabelo|date=27 July 2017|work=TimesLive|access-date=2017-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727211532/https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2017-07-27-breaking-eskom-suspends-gupta-linked-cfo-anoj-singh/|archive-date=2017-07-27|url-status=dead|last2=Cowan|first2=Kyle|language=en-US|last3=wa Africa|first3=Mzilikazi}}</ref> In September 2017, Minister for Public Enterprises, [[Lynne Brown]], instructed Eskom to take legal action against firms and individuals involved; ranging from Gupta family-owned consultancy firm Trillian Capital Partners Ltd. and consultancy firm [[McKinsey & Company|McKinsey]] to Anoj Singh and acting chief executive Matshela Koko.

A report compiled by Eskom and G9 Forensic found that the two consulting firms including Gupta owned Trillian made R1.6 billion (US$120 million) in fees with an additional R7.8 billion made from future contracts.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/business/2017-09-22-brown-orders-eskom-to-take-legal-steps-against-companies-in-gupta-saga/|title=Brown orders Eskom to take legal steps against companies in Gupta saga|last=Vecchiatto|first=Paul|date=22 September 2017|work=Bloomberg|access-date=2017-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922073810/https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/business/2017-09-22-brown-orders-eskom-to-take-legal-steps-against-companies-in-gupta-saga/|archive-date=2017-09-22|url-status=dead|language=en-US}}</ref> An investigation done by the amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism found that the Gupta family had received contracts worth R11.7 billion from Eskom to supply coal between 2014 and 2017.  With pressure for Eskom to sign the first coal supply contracts with Gupta-owned entities being applied on the state-owned firm by then President Jacob Zuma.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-06-09-amabhungane-and-scorpio-guptaleaks-how-eskom-was-captured/#.WcZKHcgjGUk|title=amaBhungane and Scorpio #GuptaLeaks: How Eskom was captured {{!}} Daily Maverick|last=amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism|date=9 June 2017|website=dailymaverick.co.za|language=en|access-date=2017-09-23}}</ref> In 2019 South African [[Special Investigating Unit]] launched an investigation into corruption related to the construction of the Medupi and Kusile power stations as a cause of repeated construction delays and project cost increases;<ref name=":25">{{Cite web|url=https://www.fin24.com/Economy/siu-probes-r139-billion-rot-at-medupi-and-kusile-report-20190224|title=SIU probes R139 billion rot at Medupi and Kusile - report|date=2019-02-24|website=Fin24|access-date=2019-08-09}}</ref> this led to the investigation of 11 contractors for allegedly stealing R139 billion (US$9.13 billion) from the projects.<ref name=":25" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/news/2019-02-24-eskom-r139bn-theft-probed/|title=Eskom: R139bn theft probed|last=HOSKEN|first=GRAEME|date=24 February 2019|website=TimesLIVE|language=en-ZA|access-date=2019-08-09}}</ref> In 2019, two senior Eskom managers and two business people were charged with fraud and corruption related to the construction of the Kusile power station.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fin24.com/Economy/Eskom/just-in-police-tweets-it-has-arrested-former-eskom-senior-managers-20191219|title=Former top Eskom managers appear in Joburg court on fraud, corruption charges|date=2019-12-19|website=Fin24|access-date=2019-12-20}}</ref>

In January 2020 South African Minister for Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, stated that cost overruns and corruption during the construction of Medupi and Kusile power stations was an important reason for the dramatic increase in Eskom electricity prices.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fin24.com/Economy/Eskom/gordhan-you-are-paying-4-times-more-for-electricity-because-of-stealing-at-medupi-and-kusile-20200122|title=Gordhan: You are paying 4 times more for electricity because of stealing at Medupi and Kusile|date=2020-01-22|website=Fin24|access-date=2020-01-27}}</ref>

==== 2019 Deloitte consulting lawsuit ====
In October 2019, Eskom's chairman [[Jabu Mabuza]] filed a court affidavit at the [[Johannesburg High Court]] to recover R207 million in consulting fees from the consulting firm [[Deloitte]]. The affidavit alleged that Eskom executives had improperly awarded two consulting contracts to the consulting firm [[Deloitte]]. According to Eskom, in one contract awarded to Deloitte, Deloitte proposed a fee of R88.8-million while the competing bids from other firms were for R14.6-million and R13.3-million. In the other contract, Deloitte's bid was R79.1-million, while the other bids were for R16-million and R9.1-million.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Comrie |first1=Susan |title=The dirt on Deloitte's consulting deals at Eskom, Part 1 |url=https://amabhungane.org/the-dirt-on-deloittes-consulting-deals-at-eskom-part-1/ |website=amaBhungane |access-date=16 June 2024 |language=en-ZA |date=15 January 2020}}</ref>

In March 2020, Deloitte agreed to pay back R150 million of the R207 million sought by Eskom. However, in a joint statement, it denied being part of any corruption, and that they acknowledged that there were technical irregularities in the process of awarding the contracts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eskom reaches out of court settlement with Deloitte Consulting - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader. |url=https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/eskom-reaches-out-of-court-settlement-with-deloitte-consulting/ |access-date=16 June 2024 |date=21 March 2020}}</ref>

In April 2020, Deloitte told [[AmaBhungane]] that the managing director for Deloitte Africa's advisory division Thiru Pillay and the lead consultant on the Eskom contract Shamal Sivasanker had resigned effective 31 March 2020 for their roles in the Eskom event.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Comrie |first1=Susan |title=Update: In the wake of Eskom scandal, two Deloitte directors resign |url=https://amabhungane.org/update-in-the-wake-of-eskom-scandal-two-deloitte-directors-resign/ |website=amaBhungane |access-date=16 June 2024 |language=en-ZA |date=9 April 2020}}</ref>

In November 2021, Eskom announced that it had appointed Deloitte as its next external auditor, as its contract with [[Grant Thornton]] was expiring at the end of that month.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eskom picks Deloitte as next external auditors |url=https://www.news24.com/fin24/companies/eskom-picks-deloitte-as-next-external-auditors-20211104 |website=News24 |access-date=16 June 2024 |date=4 November 2021}}</ref>

==== 2023 de Ruyter interview ====
{{quote box
| quote = "I didn't exactly make a secret of my view that load shedding is, to a large extent, attributable to crime and corruption"<ref name=":52">{{Cite news |last=Pilling |first=David |date=2023-03-02 |title=Scandal at South Africa's Eskom: the CEO and the cyanide-laced coffee |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/5fe8291d-9895-4272-9e0a-eefa279116f4 |access-date=2023-03-08}}</ref>
| author = - André de Ruyter
| align = right
| width = 34%
}}
In late February 2023 then Eskom CEO André de Ruyter gave a controversial interview with [[Etv (South Africa)|E.tv]] during which he stated that Eskom was losing roughly R1 billion (US$53.9 million) a month due to theft and corruption. De Ruyter attributed this to the presence within Eskom of four criminal syndicates<ref name=":52"/> and went on to state that a senior - although unnamed - ANC MP was involved<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 February 2023 |title=Eskom is the ANC's feeding trough — De Ruyter comes out guns blazing in interview |url=https://mybroadband.co.za/news/government/481189-eskom-is-the-ancs-feeding-trough-de-ruyter-comes-out-guns-blazing-in-interview.html |access-date=8 March 2023 |website=[[MyBroadband]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Madia |first=Tshidi |title=ANC leaders upset by Andre de Ruyter's scathing criticism of the party |url=https://ewn.co.za/2023/02/23/anc-leaders-upset-by-andre-de-ruyter-s-scathing-criticism-of-the-party |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=ewn.co.za |language=en}}</ref> and that government did not have the political will to resolve the situation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Outgoing Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter leaves with immediate effect {{!}} eNCA |url=https://www.enca.com/news/outgoing-eskom-ceo-andre-de-ruyter-leaves-immediate-effect |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=www.enca.com |language=en}}</ref> This resulted in de Ruyter's immediate resignation on 22 February 2023 from his position as CEO amidst criticism from the ANC.<ref name=":52"/><ref>{{cite web |date=22 February 2023 |title=Andrè de Ruyter leaves Eskom with immediate effect |url=https://www.eskom.co.za/andre-de-ruyter-leaves-eskom-with-immediate-effect/ |access-date=23 February 2023 |website=Eskom}}</ref> The [[Daily Maverick]] quoted an intelligence report that named the four criminal syndicates within Eskom as "the Presidential Cartel, the Mesh-Kings Cartel, the Legendaries Cartel and the Chief Cartel."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bloom |first=Kevin |date=2023-02-26 |title=ESKOM INTELLIGENCE FILES, PART ONE : Introducing the four crime cartels that have brought Eskom and South Africa to their knees |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-02-27-introducing-the-four-crime-cartels-that-have-brought-eskom-and-south-africa-to-their-knees/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}</ref>

=== Price increases ===
{{image frame
|content={{Graph:Chart
 |vAnnotatonsLine= 2007
 |vAnnotatonsLabel= Start of the South African energy crisis
 | width = 450
 | height=
 | type = line
 | interpolate =
 | xType = date
 | xAxisAngle = -40
 | yAxisTitle = Average price per kWh (cents)
 | xAxisMax = 1641013100000
 | yAxisMin =
 | yGrid = yes
 | linewidth = 2
 | x = 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
 | y1 =  10.32, 11.15, 11.3, 11.85, 12.29, 12.44, 13.23, 13.76, 15, 16.09, 16.04, 17.79, 18.7, 19.8, 25.24, 33.14, 41.57, 52.30, 60.66, 65.51, 70.75, 76.41, 82.53, 89.13, 93.79, 106.8, 110.93<!-- National-->
 | y2 =
 | y3 =
 | colors = <!-- Active candidates --> blue, red, gray,
}}
|width=530
|caption=South African cents per kWh of electricity, 1994 to 2020, with the start of the [[South African energy crisis]] in 2007 marked on the chart<ref name="mb">{{cite news|last1=Labuschagne|first1=Hanno |title=Eskom electricity prices – 1994 to 2020 |url=https://mybroadband.co.za/news/energy/362660-eskom-electricity-prices-1994-to-2020.html |access-date=3 May 2022 |agency=My Boardband|date=17 August 2020}}</ref>
|border=no
}}

Eskom took out a number of loans to construct the additional capacity and significantly increased electrical tariffs by an average of 22% a year between 2007 and 2015 to in an attempt to offset costs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://businesstech.co.za/news/energy/91216/eskoms-shocking-annual-price-hike-since-2007/|title=Eskom's shocking annual price hike since 2007|website=businesstech.co.za|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-20}}</ref> In 2019 Eskom controversially applied to the [[National Energy Regulator of South Africa]] (NERSA) to increase tariffs by an additional 45% over the proceeding three years<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/news/public-hearing-on-eskoms-plan-for-45-increase-over-three-years-begins-18805572|title=Public hearing on Eskom's plan for 45% increase over three years begins {{!}} Cape Argus|website=iol.co.za|language=en|access-date=2019-02-01|last1=Felix |first1=Jason }}</ref> arguing that it needs the increase in revenue to avoid a debt induced death spiral.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fin24.com/Economy/how-eskoms-looming-death-spiral-is-menacing-sa-economy-20181206|title=How Eskom's looming 'death spiral' is menacing SA economy|date=2018-12-06|website=Fin24|access-date=2019-02-01}}</ref> Eskom was controversially granted a 13.8% increase by NERSA in March 2019.<ref name=":21">{{Cite web|url=https://www.fin24.com/Economy/Eskom/sunday-read-electricity-costs-will-rocket-way-beyond-138-heres-why-20190310|title=Sunday Read: Electricity costs will rocket way beyond 13.8%. Here's why|date=2019-03-10|website=Fin24|access-date=2019-03-10}}</ref> The South African civil society [[Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA)]] stated that by 2019 Eskom's electrical tariffs had increased by 500% over the previous 11 years.<ref name=":21" /> Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity stated that the increased tariffs will exacerbate urban poverty negating increases to South Africa's [[Basic income|basic income grant]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iol.co.za/mercury/business/eskoms-latest-hike-will-wipe-out-r80-grant-increase-20599368|title=Eskom's latest hike will 'wipe out' R80 grant increase|last=KAILENE PILLAY AND SE-ANNE RALL|date=4 April 2019|website=iol.co.za|publisher=The Mercury|language=en|access-date=2019-04-04}}</ref>

Eskom have again applied to NERSA for an urgent 17%  increase in tariffs for 2019/2020 in an attempt to make up a R27.323 billion shortfall, Eskom is citing lower returns due to lower sales volumes as main reason for needing this price hike. The lower sales volumes is directly related to load shedding and Eskom's failure to maintain capacity. The price hike application is open for public participation until 20 January 2020.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://eeco.co.za/eskoms-2018-19-rca-application/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215115627/https://eeco.co.za/eskoms-2018-19-rca-application/ |archive-date=15 December 2019 |title=Eskom tariff hike - Energy Expert Coalition}}</ref> In NERSA has opposed an Eskom application to receive an additional R69 billion government bailout whilst Eskom is challenging NERSA's denial of an additional price increase for 2020/21 of 16% instead of the 8.1% price increase already approved by NERSA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://city-press.news24.com/Business/sa-bent-over-backwards-for-eskom-nersa-heads-to-court-20200105|title='SA bent over backwards for Eskom': Nersa heads to court|last=Slabbert|first=Antoinette|date=2020-01-05|website=CityPress|language=en|access-date=2020-01-06}}</ref> During court proceedings with NERSA Eskom stated that this finances might collapse triggering a debt crisis for the South African government that has guaranteed Eskom's debt.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fin24.com/Economy/Eskom/forget-about-state-capture-eskom-warns-of-collapse-without-higher-tariffs-as-it-faces-regulator-in-court-20200115|title='Forget about state capture': Eskom warns of collapse without higher tariffs as it faces regulator in court|date=2020-01-15|website=Fin24|access-date=2020-01-15}}</ref> Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has stated that corruption and cost overruns during the construction of Medupi and Kusile power stations has resulted in a fourfold increase in electricity prices.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fin24.com/Economy/Eskom/gordhan-you-are-paying-4-times-more-for-electricity-because-of-stealing-at-medupi-and-kusile-20200122|title=Gordhan: You are paying 4 times more for electricity because of stealing at Medupi and Kusile|date=2020-01-22|website=Fin24|access-date=2020-02-15}}</ref>

An additional increase of 20.5% was approved by NERSA and announced by Eskom to take effect from 1 April 2022. This price raise was criticized by the mayor of Cape Town, [[Geordin Hill-Lewis]] as damaging to the economy and requested that it not be implemented.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Zeeman|first=Kyle|date=23 January 2022|title=More than 20,000 people sign DA's petition to object to Eskom's request for a 20.5% electricity hike|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2022-01-23-more-than-20000-people-sign-das-petition-to-object-to-eskoms-request-for-a-205-electricity-hike/|access-date=2022-01-27|website=TimesLIVE|language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title='Outrageous': Mayors slam Eskom's proposed electricity hikes as unlawful and unjust|url=https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/outrageous-mayors-slam-eskoms-proposed-electricity-hikes-as-unlawful-and-unjust/ar-AAT9UuE|access-date=2022-01-27|website=www.msn.com}}</ref> Eskom has a proposal before the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) to hike electricity prices by a rumoured 44% for the 2024/2025 financial year<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eyaaz |date=2024-08-29 |title=Eskom's unaffordable tariff hikes need a review |url=https://mg.co.za/thought-leader/opinion/2024-08-29-eskoms-unaffordable-tariff-hikes-need-a-review/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1IX-M5Y9N_lrTWQB8AovByYIl1ywUDI3kMH2Tv5KzgiwV9g8IZOJDNBKc_aem_eQOYyMI_TSuNvgnjXiQ2gg |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref> The state-owned enterprise has applied for total revenues of R446bn for the 2026 financial year, R495bn for the 2027 financial year and R537bn for the 2028 financial year.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-09-25-what-you-need-to-know-about-eskoms-retail-tariff-plan-application/ | title=What you need to know about Eskom's retail tariff plan application | date=25 September 2024 }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Cahora Bassa (HVDC)]]
* [[Eskom Centre]]
* [[XMLVend]]
* [[Hendrik van der Bijl]] – founder and first chairman of ESCOM (Eskom)
* [[South African energy crisis]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book |last1= Jaglin |first1= Sylvy |last2= Dubresson |first2= Alain |title= Eskom: Electricity and Technopolitics in South Africa |location= Cape Town |publisher= UCT Press |year= 2016 |isbn= 978-1-77582-215-8}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.eskom.co.za/ }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111005143151/http://heritage.eskom.co.za/heritage/main.htm Official Eskom Heritage website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071004222832/http://www.eskom.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=4673 Map of Power Stations]

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