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Power utility ZESCO has activated Stage 11 of emergency load management, resulting in a reduction of electricity supply to four hours daily for most residential customers between October 12 and 18, 2025.
The company attributed the reduction to several factors, including transmission bottlenecks affecting cross-border power flow, regional power system disturbances, and critically low water levels at hydropower stations, which have limited generation capacity.
According to the schedule released in Lusaka on Monday by the Corporate Affairs Department, ZESCO said it could no longer sustain Stage 10, under which customers were receiving about six hours of electricity daily.
“Under Stage 11, the majority of our residential customers will receive four hours of electricity daily. The disruption to life and commerce caused by insufficient electricity is fully appreciated and deeply regretted,” reads the statement.
ZESCO stated that the transition was necessary to maintain the stability of the national electricity grid and prevent system collapse.
The utility assured customers that it was doing everything possible within its means to resolve generation and transmission challenges and restore stable power supply.
It reaffirmed its commitment to adhering to the published schedules but warned that faults and unplanned outages—including those caused by vandalism and theft of electrical installations—may affect the plan.
“The Corporation will endeavour to promptly communicate such disruptions to affected customers via SMS, WhatsApp, Facebook, and other media channels,” ZESCO said.
The company further urged customers to report any power outage lasting more than 24 hours and to help combat vandalism and theft by alerting law enforcement agencies to any suspicious activity.
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