Total darkness looms, as ZESCO tells residents to expect electricity supply only three hours a day

ZESCO Limited has announced that it will be rationing electricity to residential customers, providing less than three hours of power per day on a rotating schedule.

The company cited a significant power shortfall that has hindered its ability to implement the 17-hour power rationing schedule initially set to begin on September 1, 2024.

In a statement released in Lusaka on Sunday, ZESCO attributed the decision to reduced power imports from the southern circuit through Namibia, caused by a converter fault on the transmission line.

“During this import route constraint, ZESCO is receiving only 33 Megawatts (MW) of the 160 MW scheduled imports,” the statement read. ZESCO also pointed to annual maintenance works at Maamba Collieries Limited, which have temporarily removed 150 MW from the national grid.

To mitigate the impact of the power supply shortfall, ZESCO emphasized that it would provide up to three hours of electricity per day to residential customers on a rotational basis to ensure access to essential household needs, such as water pumping.

The company also stated that it would prioritize essential services like health, water pumping, and security.

Additionally, ZESCO announced plans to install diesel-powered generators in some markets to support business continuity.

“With the installation of these generators, ZESCO also expects to ease grid pressure by freeing up some power initially reserved for exempted loads, which can then be redistributed on the network,” the statement added.

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