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Power Outage in My Area — Is the Electricity Off Today?

If your electricity is off, it could be due to load shedding, load reduction, or an unplanned outage. Understanding the difference helps you know when your power will come back and who to contact.

Load Shedding (Scheduled)
Eskom's nationwide scheduled power cuts to prevent the grid from collapsing. Load shedding is announced in advance with stages (Stage 1–8) and follows a published schedule. Each area is affected for 2–4 hours at a time.
Load Reduction (Eskom Direct)
Eskom switches off power to specific areas where there is overloading or non-payment. Load reduction is different from load shedding — it targets specific communities and is not part of the national schedule. It can last longer than load shedding.
Unplanned Outage (Fault)
Unexpected power cuts caused by cable theft, equipment failure, storms, or accidents. These are not scheduled and can affect any area at any time. Report unplanned outages to your electricity provider for faster resolution.

Check If There's Load Shedding in Your Area

Search for your suburb to see if load shedding is currently active and when your next scheduled outage is. Our homepage shows the current load shedding stage and your area's specific schedule.

Check My Area's Schedule

Load Reduction Schedule

Load reduction is separate from load shedding and is implemented by Eskom in areas with overloaded infrastructure or high non-payment. If your area is affected by load reduction, it will not appear on the normal load shedding schedule.

Check if your area is affected by load reduction on our dedicated page.

View Load Reduction Schedule

Report or Check a Power Outage

If your power is off and it is not load shedding or load reduction, you may be experiencing an unplanned outage. Contact your electricity provider to report the outage and get an estimated restoration time.

City Power (Johannesburg)
Area: Johannesburg
citypower.co.za
Eskom
Area: National / Direct supply areas
eskom.co.za
City of Cape Town
Area: Cape Town
capetown.gov.za
eThekwini Electricity (Durban)
Area: Durban / eThekwini
durban.gov.za
City of Tshwane
Area: Pretoria / Tshwane
tshwane.gov.za
Tip: Check your electricity bill or prepaid meter to find out who supplies your electricity. If it says "Eskom", call Eskom directly. If it shows your municipality's name, call them instead.

When Will the Electricity Come Back?

How long the power is off depends on the type of outage:

  • Load shedding: Your power will return after your scheduled 2–4 hour slot. Check the schedule for your area to see the exact times.
  • Load reduction: Duration varies. Eskom typically reduces load for 2–4 hours but it can be longer. Monitor Eskom's announcements for your area.
  • Minor faults: Usually fixed within 2–6 hours once reported and a team is dispatched.
  • Major faults (cable theft, transformer): Can take 8–48 hours or more depending on the severity and availability of equipment.
  • Storm damage: During severe weather, multiple areas may be affected simultaneously. Repairs are prioritised and may take 12–72 hours.
Safety reminder: During a power outage, switch off appliances like geysers, stoves, and heaters to prevent damage from power surges when electricity is restored. Leave one light on so you know when power returns.

Common Causes of Power Outages in South Africa

Power outages in South Africa can be caused by a range of factors beyond load shedding:

  • Ageing infrastructure: Much of South Africa's electricity grid is decades old and requires ongoing maintenance and replacement.
  • Cable theft and vandalism: Theft of copper cables and damage to infrastructure is a major cause of unplanned outages, particularly in urban areas.
  • Overloaded networks: Illegal connections and increased demand in certain areas overload transformers and cables, causing them to fail.
  • Severe weather: Lightning, strong winds, and flooding can damage power lines, substations, and transformers.
  • Planned maintenance: Municipalities sometimes schedule maintenance on specific feeders, which requires a temporary outage. These are usually announced in advance.
  • Vehicle accidents: Vehicles colliding with utility poles can cause localised outages.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is electricity coming back in my area?

If your area is experiencing load shedding, check the schedule for your suburb — it shows the exact times your power will be off and when it will return. Each slot is typically 2–4 hours. If it is an unplanned outage, call your electricity provider for an estimated restoration time. You can also check our homepage for the current load shedding status.

How do I check if there is load shedding?

Visit the OurPower homepage and search for your suburb. The current load shedding stage is displayed at the top, and you can see your area's specific schedule with times. If the stage is 0, there is no load shedding currently active.

Who do I call about a power outage?

It depends on who supplies your electricity. For Eskom-supplied areas, call 0860 037 566. For Johannesburg (City Power), call 011 490 7911. For Cape Town, call 0860 103 089. For Durban (eThekwini), call 080 131 3111. For Pretoria (Tshwane), call 012 358 9999. Check your electricity bill to see who your provider is.

How long do power outages last?

Load shedding lasts 2–4 hours per slot, depending on your municipality. Unplanned outages vary widely: minor faults are usually fixed within 2–6 hours, while major faults like cable theft or transformer failure can take 8–48 hours. During severe storms, outages may last longer as repair teams address multiple faults across the network.

Is there load shedding today?

Check the OurPower homepage for the current load shedding stage. If the stage is above 0, load shedding is active. Search for your suburb to see if and when your area will be affected today. You can also sign up for push notifications to be alerted when the stage changes.

Last updated: 12 March 2026. Contact numbers are subject to change. Always verify with your local municipality.

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