Eskom is South Africa-s primary electricity supplier. The company, which is wholly owned by the South African government, generates; transmits and distributes electricity to industrial; mining; commercial; agricultural and residential customers, and to municipalities, which in turn redistribute electricity to businesses and households.

Eskom sells electricity directly to about 3 000 industrial customers, 1 000 mining customers, 50 000 commercial customers and 84 000 agricultural customers. It also supplies electricity to more than 4.7 million residential customers - many of whom are in rural areas - who account for about 40% of all residential customers (which include prepaid customers) in the country.