A new book by former Eskom executive Ian Morreira provides a rare insider perspective on the workings of South Africa’s power utility, drawing on nearly four decades of experience across some of the organisation’s most critical divisions.

My Eskom Voyage traces Morreira’s career from 1979 to 2016, during which he worked across Eskom’s generation, transmission and distribution businesses, as well as in sales and customer service. The book offers a first-hand account of the operational, technical and commercial complexities of supplying electricity to a country heavily reliant on the utility’s infrastructure.

At the centre of the narrative is Morreira’s role in managing relationships with Eskom’s major customers – from agricultural users to municipalities and large industrial consumers responsible for billions of rands in yearly electricity payments. His work placed him at the interface between Eskom’s engineering operations and the customers whose activities depend on reliable power supply.

The book also reflects on the pressures faced by Eskom employees during South Africa’s electricity crisis, when Morreira was tasked with overseeing load reduction arrangements with key customers. These experiences provide a glimpse into the decision-making, responsibilities and national urgency surrounding power shortages.

Described as an engineering autobiography, My Eskom Voyage combines personal reflections with technical insights, statistics and observations about the economics and realities of electricity supply. Morreira writes candidly about career milestones, internal challenges, disciplinary matters and the evolving culture within the utility over several decades.

The narrative also touches on the technological and organisational changes experienced over the course of his career – beginning in an era before email, computers and even fax machines were widely used in business environments.

While the book addresses difficult periods in Eskom’s history, Morreira emphasises that it is not intended as a critique of the organisation. Instead, it highlights the dedication, technical capability and performance of the people who have worked within the utility and the important role Eskom has played in supporting South Africa’s economy.

Packed with figures, industry insights and practical explanations about electricity as a critical economic input, the book aims to provide readers with a deeper understanding of the true cost and complexity of power generation and supply.

Morreira suggests that readers with a basic understanding of electricity will gain the most from the work, but he also believes it will appeal to aspiring technicians and engineers, as well as experienced professionals interested in the realities behind one of South Africa’s most important infrastructure institutions.

Through a mix of technical explanations, personal experience and reflections, My Eskom Voyage offers readers a detailed account of life inside Eskom during a period of profound change in the country’s electricity sector.