Eskoms

Eskoms commonly refers to Eskom, South Africa’s state-owned electricity public utility. Established in 1923 as the Electricity Supply Commission (ESCOM), it was later rebranded Eskom and has been the primary generator and transmitter of electricity in South Africa for much of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Eskom operates a large and diverse generation portfolio that includes coal-fired power stations, the Koeberg nuclear power plant, pumped-storage schemes and hydroelectric facilities. It also manages the national high-voltage transmission network, while municipal and private entities handle distribution in many areas. At its peak role, Eskom supplied the vast majority of South Africa’s electricity and a substantial share of electricity produced on the African continent.

Since the 2000s Eskom has faced significant operational and financial difficulties. Aging infrastructure, deferred maintenance, financial strain, governance failings and instances of corruption have contributed to recurrent system failures and scheduled outages known locally as load shedding. The utility has accrued large levels of debt and required state support, prompting government-led reform proposals including plans to unbundle generation, transmission and distribution into separate entities.

Eskom remains central to South Africa’s energy policy debates, including issues of reliability, tariff setting, investment in new capacity, and the transition to lower-carbon energy sources. Its performance has wide economic and social implications for the country.