SA has recorded 476 consecutive days without load-shedding since May 16, 2025, following improvements in plant reliability, maintenance and generation performance.
Eskom’s financial year-to-date Energy Availability Factor (EAF) reached 67.79% by September 3, 2026, the highest level since 2020 and above the 61.3% recorded during the corresponding period last year.
Unplanned outages declined to 19.47% from 26.99% year-on-year. Average unplanned outages have fallen by 6 888MW over three years, from 16 097MW to 9 209MW.
Improved generation reduced reliance on diesel-powered Open-Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs). Diesel expenditure between April 1 and September 3, 2026, fell by 81.64% from the corresponding period last year.
The OCGT load factor dropped to 1.11% from 7.92%, remaining below Eskom’s annual target of 3%. OCGT electricity generation also declined by 86.01% year-on-year to 140.06GWh.
Planned maintenance averaged 5 932MW during the financial year to date, accounting for 12.54% of generation capacity. The figure stood at 5 266MW during the corresponding period last year.
Eskom also maintained 6 220MW in cold reserves because of excess capacity.
Progress continued under the Load Reduction Eradication Programme, with about 1.2 million customers restored to normal electricity supply. Seven of SA’s nine provinces are now free from load reduction.
Eskom has removed 571 feeders from load reduction, representing 59% of the programme’s target of 971. The programme is expected to benefit 1.69 million customers and eliminate load reduction nationally by March 2027.
A total of 512 257 smart meters have been installed on affected feeders, representing 89% of the target for high-priority areas.
However, resistance, intimidation, safety incidents and work stoppages have delayed more than 122 000 planned installations.
Eskom said illegal connections and meter tampering continued to damage infrastructure in some communities. Load reduction will remain a temporary measure in high-risk areas while Eskom expands smart metering, Distributed Energy Resources and Free Basic Electricity support.
–ChannelAfrica–
