Eskom says its power system remains stable and capable of meeting the expected increase in electricity demand as industries gradually resume operations following the festive season break.
ESKOM CITES GENERATION RECOVERY PLAN AS SYSTEM CONTINUES TO BE STABLE
In a statement, the power utility said the system’s resilience reflects significant improvements in its generation fleet and the continued success of its Generation Recovery Plan, which has strengthened operational performance and bolstered South Africa’s energy security.
Eskom reported further gains in its Energy Availability Factor (EAF), with the year-to-date figure rising to 64.55%. The generation fleet has reached or exceeded the 70% EAF mark on 55 occasions.
“These results demonstrate sustained recovery and improved performance, reinforcing confidence in the stability and security of the national electricity supply,” Eskom said.
OUTAGES AND DIESEL USE DECLINE
According to the utility, the improved performance is largely due to a reduction in unplanned outages, highlighting the effectiveness of disciplined maintenance and recovery interventions.
Between 2 and 8 January 2026, average unplanned outages declined to 7 705MW, down from 13 876MW recorded during the same period last year — an improvement of 6 171MW.
Over the same period, the Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF) dropped to 16.02%, compared to 28.82% a year earlier. Planned maintenance levels also declined, with the Planned Capacity Loss Factor (PCLF) averaging 9.32%, down from 14.72% in the previous financial year.
Eskom said the reduced maintenance levels follow an intensive maintenance programme implemented last year, which exceeded historical norms and helped restore fleet reliability.
The sustained improvement in EAF has reduced Eskom’s reliance on costly diesel-fired generation. The utility confirmed that for a third consecutive week, no diesel was used, resulting in zero diesel expenditure over the past three weeks.
In addition, 7 305MW of capacity is currently in cold reserve due to excess generation capacity and lower demand during the holiday period. Eskom’s diesel spending is now R2.959 billion lower than at the same time last year and remains below budget on a year-to-date basis.
Eskom also confirmed that South Africa has now experienced 238 consecutive days without load shedding, with only 26 hours of interruptions recorded during April and May 2025 in the current financial year.
However, the utility warned that while generation capacity continues to exceed demand, persistent adverse weather conditions and fires in parts of the Eastern Cape, including Coega, Humansdorp and the Sarah Baartman district, have led to an increase in distribution network faults.
“Eskom teams continue to restore power safely and efficiently in affected areas, while prioritising the safety of both employees and the public,” the utility said.
Eskom also reiterated concerns over illegal electricity connections and meter tampering, which continue to damage infrastructure and pose serious safety risks. As a precautionary measure, load reduction remains in place in high-risk areas to protect communities and the electricity network.
