Report an ESCOM fault
Every way ESCOM gives to report a power fault or outage, the toll free lines, WhatsApp, app and USSD, district fault numbers, and how to stay safe around fallen lines.
- 2020 Blantyre & East
- 3030 Lilongwe, Mzuzu & more
- Vandalism 847
Quick answer: Call ESCOM’s toll free fault line: 2020 for Blantyre and the Eastern Region, 3030 for Lilongwe, Mzuzu, Karonga, Salima, Dwangwa and Nkhotakota. You can also report on the WhatsApp chatbot 0886 302 774, the ESCOM app, USSD *2020#, or by email to [email protected]. Never touch a fallen line: ESCOM says you cannot tell whether it is live.
Ways to report a fault to ESCOM
All of these are on escom.mw. Tap one for the details.
Toll free fault lines 2020 and 3030
As posted on ESCOM’s Facebook page (October 2026): 2020 for Blantyre and the Eastern Region, 3030 for Lilongwe, Mzuzu, Karonga, Salima, Dwangwa and Nkhotakota. ESCOM’s website puts it more broadly: 2020 for the Southern Region, 3030 for the Central and Northern Regions. Its call centre banner adds 24/7 support.
If the toll free line is busy, try your district fault centre (below) or WhatsApp. ESCOM does not say whether 2020 and 3030 work from every network, so if a call does not go through, check with ESCOM on another channel.
- Blantyre and Eastern Region
- 2020
- Lilongwe, Mzuzu, Karonga
- 3030
- Salima, Dwangwa, Nkhotakota
- 3030
- Head office
- (+265) 111 822 000
WhatsApp chatbot and contact centres
ESCOM’s steps, as posted on its Facebook page: save +265 886 302 774, send Hi on WhatsApp, follow the prompts, and you get a reference number for your fault report. The regional numbers are WhatsApp only: message them, do not call.
The chatbot is on 0886 302 774. ESCOM launched it in 2024, and its October 2026 notices still list it for fault reporting. ESCOM’s Facebook page gives 0887 03 06 05 as its contact number; the website lists the same number as the Southern Region WhatsApp line.
- Chatbot
- 0886 302 774
- Southern Region
- 0887 030 605
- Central Region
- 0887 386 338
- Northern Region
- 0888 866 182
ESCOM app, USSD and website
ESCOM calls these its 360 Digital Experience: one system for reporting faults across app, USSD, chatbot and website.
ESCOM app
Get the ESCOM app on Google Play. ESCOM says it lets you report and follow up faults and emergencies, see power outages and the load shedding programme, retrieve tokens and check postpaid bills. ESCOM’s iPhone App Store link was not working when we checked in October 2026.
USSD on any phone
Dial *2020# on any phone, no data needed. ESCOM’s Facebook posts list it for reporting faults (to ease congestion on the call lines) and for tokens: option 6 looks up your tokens.
District fault reporting numbers
From ESCOM’s own list ‘ESCOM faults reporting contacts and centres’, posted on its Facebook page (November 2024, again in January 2025). It is newer than the 2023 tables on escom.mw, so we use it. Numbers are copied exactly as ESCOM lists them.
Southern Region
- Blantyre, BT Main: 0885 913 386, 0885 979 652
City centre, Namiwawa, Chilomoni, Chileka, Lunzu, Lirangwe - Blantyre, Chichiri: 0885 913 724, 0885 979 651
Ginnery Corner, Mandala, Sunnyside, Ndirande, Nyambadwe, Makata - Blantyre, Kwacha: 0885 913 664, 0885 979 653
Kwacha, Chitawira, Manja, Zingwangwa, Soche, Chilobwe, Chigumula, Bvumbwe - Blantyre, Limbe: 0885 913 665, 0885 979 650
Limbe, Kanjedza, Mpingwe, Bangwe, Machinjiri, Chiradzulu, Thumbwe - Blantyre WhatsApp only: 0887 030 605
Message, do not call. Toll free for Blantyre urban and rural: 2020 - Zomba: 0881 506 795, 0885 913 692
- Nchalo: 0881 950 014, 0885 913 669
Includes Chikwawa - Mwanza: 0885 913 760
Includes Neno - Bangula: 0885 812 213, 0995 812 213, 0885 913 768
- Nsanje: 0884 016 171
- Fatima: 0888 144 045, 0885 913 767
- Thyolo: 0885 005 374, 0885 913 749
- Mulanje: 0888 913 872, 0885 913 626
Includes Phalombe - Mangochi: 0885 913 634, 0885 742 277
- Monkey Bay: 0888 271 213, 0885 913 635
- Liwonde: 0990 054 776, 0885 913 720
- Balaka: 0885 913 718, 0981 70 3131
- Ntcheu: 0885 913 737
Central Region
- Lilongwe (Bunda, Kanengo, Old Town and City Centre): 0880 876 911, 0888 354 947, 0999 970 170, 0999 970 172, 0888 863 428, 0999 912 079, 0880 761 797, 0999 970 171
WhatsApp only: 0887 386 338. Toll free for Lilongwe urban and rural: 3030 - Kasungu: 0999 970 177
- Nkhamenya: 0885 979 820
- Dedza: 0999 970 173
- Salima: 0999 970 174, 0111 262 257
- Nkhotakota: 0999 970 178
- Dwangwa: 0999 950 968
- Dowa: 0999 970 179
- Mponela: 0999 970 176
- Mchinji: 0999 970 180
- Ntchisi: 0999 970 169
Northern Region
- Mzuzu: 0885 979 700, 0111 612 406, 0999 966 182
WhatsApp only: 0888 866 182 - Mzimba: 0999 013 424, 0111 342 423
- Nkhata Bay: 0994 434 642, 0111 352 211, 0888 202 499
- Rumphi: 0111 672 265, 0111 672 293
- Karonga: 0997 755 307, 0111 362 268
- Chitipa: 0111 382 281, 0111 382 293
0111 382 281 outside working hours, 0111 382 293 in working hours
Email, offices and the contact form
Better for problems that are not urgent, like a fault that keeps coming back or a follow up.
Email [email protected], use the form on ESCOM’s contact page (it asks for your account or meter number), or walk into any ESCOM service centre, open 8am to 4pm on weekdays.
- Southern office
- Chichiri Power Station, Blantyre, (+265) 1 870 263
- Central office
- Magetsi House, Lilongwe, (+265) 1 773 463
- Northern office
- Mpico House, Mzuzu, (+265) 111 611 088
- [email protected]
What to tell ESCOM
ESCOM does not publish a script. These are our tips so the team can find the fault fast.
Have this ready
- Your meter or account number. ESCOM’s contact form asks for it.
- Where you are: district, area and a landmark nearby (ESCOM’s fault centres are organised by area).
- What you see: no power in your house only, the whole street out, a fallen or sparking line, a burning transformer.
- A phone number where ESCOM can reach you, and any reference number they give you.
Before you call, check whether it is load shedding or a planned outage: see ESCOM’s load shedding programme and outage notices, or our load shedding guide. Only your house dark on a prepaid meter? Check your units first with our ESCOM units guide.
Fallen lines, fires and vandalism
ESCOM’s own safety tips: electricity is good but it also kills.
Never touch a fallen line
ESCOM says most public accidents come from cutting trees near high voltage lines and from stepping on, touching or getting into contact with fallen lines. You cannot tell whether a line is live without instruments, so never assume a line on the ground is switched off. Keep away, keep others away, and report it on 2020 or 3030.
Prevent fires at home
Hire qualified electricians, replace damaged cables, plugs and sockets, and do not overload sockets or adaptors. If a socket shows burn marks or feels hot, have a registered electrician check it. Always use a proper plug, and teach children not to play with electricity.
Report vandalism on 847
Report vandalism, illegal connections and meter bypasses to the police, an ESCOM office, or 847 on TNM and Airtel.
ESCOM fault and contact pages
ESCOM fault FAQ
What is the ESCOM fault number?
Toll free 2020 for Blantyre and the Eastern Region, 3030 for Lilongwe, Mzuzu, Karonga, Salima, Dwangwa and Nkhotakota (ESCOM’s Facebook page, October 2026). Elsewhere, ESCOM’s website gives 2020 for the South and 3030 for the Centre and North.
What is the ESCOM emergency number for a fallen line?
Use the same fault lines, 2020 or 3030, or your district fault centre. Keep everyone away from the line until ESCOM arrives.
Can I report an ESCOM fault on WhatsApp?
Yes. Save 0886 302 774, send Hi and follow the prompts; you get a reference number. Or message your region’s contact centre: South 0887 030 605, Centre 0887 386 338, North 0888 866 182.
What is the ESCOM USSD code?
*2020#. ESCOM’s Facebook posts list it for reporting faults and for tokens (option 6).
What is the ESCOM customer care email?
[email protected]. The head office line is (+265) 111 822 000.
My power is off. Is it a fault or load shedding?
Check ESCOM’s Facebook page (outage notices go there first), its load shedding programme and outage notices. If your area should have power, report a fault.
How do I report vandalism or illegal connections?
Call 847 on TNM or Airtel, or tell the police or an ESCOM office.
How long does ESCOM take to fix a fault?
ESCOM does not publish response times. Keep any reference number and follow up in the app or by calling again.
Related guides
Sources: contact, distribution contact and customer services, fault reporting centres (South, Centre and North), safety tips, outage notices and FAQ pages on escom.mw, ESCOM’s Facebook page (cover, About tab and outage notices, October 2026), and ESCOM news on its 360 Digital Experience (February 2024). Checked October 2026. Numbers change; if one fails, use 2020 or 3030.
