MEDIA STATEMENT: ZESCO UNDERTAKES PLANNED MAINTENANCE AHEAD OF THE RAINY SEASON
Zesco Limited wishes to inform its valued customers and the public that the Corporation is undertaking scheduled maintenance on electricity infrastructure in selected parts of the country. The works are intended to strengthen the network and ensure safe, reliable and secure power supply, particularly as the rainy season approaches.
During the rainy season, electricity infrastructure is more exposed to lightning, strong winds, falling trees and flooding. The ongoing works include inspecting, repairing and replacing worn equipment, clearing vegetation near power lines, reinforcing vulnerable sections of the network and attending to identified defects at substations and along distribution lines.
ZESCO wishes to clarify that interruptions arising from scheduled maintenance are not load shedding. Scheduled maintenance involves planned, localised and time-bound interruptions to enable engineers to work safely on specific sections of the network. Load shedding, on the other hand, is the controlled reduction of electricity demand when available generation is insufficient to meet national demand.
Customers are therefore assured that the current maintenance interruptions do not signal a return to load shedding. Security of electricity supply remains guaranteed. Only specifically identified areas will be affected, and customers will be notified in advance through SMS, public notices, traditional media and digital platforms.
Customers who are not registered to receive SMS notifications are encouraged to register or update their mobile phone details with ZESCO. Those who experience loss of supply outside an announced maintenance period should report the fault to the ZESCO Customer Care Centre on 0211 363636, *3600# or 322.
For safety purposes, all electricity lines and equipment must always be treated as live, even during an interruption. Fallen conductors, damaged poles and exposed cables must not be touched or approached and should be reported immediately to ZESCO.
The Corporation regrets the temporary inconvenience and appreciates customers’ patience and cooperation as it works to improve the safety and reliability of the network.
Issued by:
Corporate Affairs Department
19 September 2026
Ministry of Green Economy and Environment – Zambia
Ministry of Information and Media – Zambia
