Eskom, South Africa’s primary electricity supplier, frequently deals with load shedding schedules, billing inquiries, and customer service requests. An Eskom chatbot can help users get real-time power outage updates, report issues, and access Eskom services efficiently.
Why Create an Eskom Chatbot?
Real-Time Load Shedding Alerts – Notify users of scheduled power cuts. Billing & Payment Assistance – Help customers check balances and make payments. Report Power Outages – Automate issue reporting for faster service. Customer Support 24/7 – Answer common queries instantly. Energy Saving Tips – Educate users on electricity conservation.
Methods to Create an Eskom Chatbot
➤ 1. Using No-Code Chatbot Builders
For a simple Eskom chatbot, use:
Tidio – AI-powered chatbot for customer queries. Chatfuel – No-code chatbot builder for Facebook & WhatsApp. Dialogflow (Google AI) – NLP-based chatbot for smarter responses. BotPenguin – WhatsApp and web chatbot builder.
➤ 2. Developing a Custom Eskom Chatbot (Python Example)
For developers, a Python-based chatbot using OpenAI GPT API can handle Eskom-related queries.
Python Code for an Eskom Chatbot
python
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import openai
Set up OpenAI API key
openai.api_key = “YOUR_API_KEY”
Function to fetch chatbot responses
def eskom_chatbot(user_input):
response = openai.ChatCompletion.create(
model=”gpt-3.5-turbo”,
messages=[{“role”: “user”, “content”: user_input}]
)
return response[“choices”][0][“message”][“content”]
Chatbot conversation loop
while True:
query = input(“Ask about Eskom: “)
if query.lower() == “exit”:
break
print(“Eskom Bot:”, eskom_chatbot(query)) How to Deploy This Chatbot:
Host on a server using Flask/Django.
Connect it to WhatsApp API, Facebook Messenger, or Telegram.
Embed it on an Eskom-related blog using iframe or API calls.
Example Eskom Chatbot Commands
User Query Bot Response
Load shedding update? “Stage 4 load shedding from 2 PM to 8 PM in your area.”
Check my Eskom bill “Please enter your account number to retrieve your bill.”
Report power outage “Outage reported for your area. Eskom is working on it.”
Energy-saving tips? “Switch off unused appliances and use LED lights to save energy.” Best Practices for an Eskom Chatbot Use Eskom API or Public Data Sources – Ensure real-time updates. Enable Multi-Platform Support – Deploy on WhatsApp, Messenger, and Telegram. Implement Smart NLP Responses – Use Dialogflow for better interaction. Regularly Update Information – Keep load shedding schedules accurate.
References Eskom Official Website – https://www.eskom.co.za OpenAI GPT API – https://openai.com/api Dialogflow AI Chatbot – https://cloud.google.com/dialogflow
Tidio Chatbot for Websites – https://www.tidio.com
Chatfuel for Messenger & WhatsApp – https://chatfuel.com
Would you like help setting up a chatbot for Eskom updates? 
