{"id":22568,"date":"2026-01-19T08:30:24","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T06:30:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jhb-webdevelopers\/channelafrica\/news\/sa-power-utility-reports-strongest-system-stability-in-years-as-energy-availability-improves-diesel-use-drops-to-zero\/"},"modified":"2026-02-27T16:33:31","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T14:33:31","slug":"sa-power-utility-reports-strongest-system-stability-in-years-as-energy-availability-improves-diesel-use-drops-to-zero","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/news\/sa-power-utility-reports-strongest-system-stability-in-years-as-energy-availability-improves-diesel-use-drops-to-zero\/","title":{"rendered":"SA power utility reports strongest system stability in years as energy availability improves, diesel use drops to zero"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The utility has entered 2026 with a structurally stronger system than at any point in the past five years, with 4\u202f400MW more capacity available than this time last year. The improved stability is attributed to major gains in Eskom\u2019s generation fleet and the continued success of its Generation Recovery Plan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Energy Availability Factor (EAF) has continued its steady upward trend, reaching 64.66% year\u2011to\u2011date. Eskom\u2019s fleet has achieved or exceeded the 70% EAF mark on 55 occasions, underscoring a sustained recovery. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Between January 9 and <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">15,<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> 2026, average unplanned outages dropped sharply to <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">8\u202f252MW<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, down from <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">14\u202f783MW<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> recorded over the same period last year, an improvement of <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">6\u202f531MW<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span> <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF) decreased to 17.19%, <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">significantly<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> better than <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">30.93<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">%<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> a <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">year ago.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Planned maintenance, reflected in the Planned Capacity Loss Factor, averaged 13.89% over the same period. Eskom says this increase is consistent with its maintenance strategy to boost long\u2011term reliability, building on an intensive programme that has exceeded historical norms over the past three years. Declining unplanned outages indicate that these efforts are yielding results.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Improved EAF has also reduced reliance on costly diesel generation. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For the fourth consecutive week, Eskom used no diesel, <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">lowering expenditure by<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> $210\u202fbillion compared to last year.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Year\u2011to\u2011date diesel spending is well below budget, aided by excess capacity and reduced holiday-season demand, with <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">5\u202f368MW<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> currently in cold reserve.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">SA has now recorded 245 consecutive days without an <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">interrupted<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> electricity supply. Only 26 hours of loadshedding occurred during April and May 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">To maintain stability, Eskom expects to bring <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">2\u202f070MW<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> online ahead of the evening peak on 19 January 2026. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Demand is forecast at <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">22\u202f860MW<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, against available capacity of <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">28\u202f703MW<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, a healthy margin.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Eskom\u2019s Summer Outlook, published on September 5, 2025, projected no loadshedding between September 2025 and March 2026 due to sustained fleet improvements.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The year\u2011to\u2011date UCLF stands at 23.52%, down from 25.26% last year. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Planned maintenance averaged <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">5\u202f362MW<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> (11.4% of capacity), lower than 12.37% recorded <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">last<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> year.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">From April 1, <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">2025<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> to January 15, 2026, Eskom generated <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">1\u202f049.38GWh<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> through Open-Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs), <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">costing<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> $380\u202fmillion, less than the <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">1\u202f568.73GWh<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> and $590\u202fmillion spent last year.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The OCGT load factor dropped to 4.42%, below last year\u2019s 6.60%.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Despite system stability, illegal connections and meter tampering continue to damage infrastructure, <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">requiring<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> temporary load <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">reduction<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> in <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">high\u2011risk<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> areas.<\/span> <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Eskom aims to eliminate load <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">reduction<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> by 2027 through a phased programme targeting 971 feeders and benefiting around 1.69\u202fmillion customers.<\/span> <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Measures include smart meters, integration of distributed energy resources, and <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">expanding<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Free Basic Electricity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Eskom has installed <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">83\u202f704<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> smart meters, over 90% in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">KwaZulu\u2011Natal<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span> <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The utility aims to install <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">577\u202f347<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> meters by March 2026, <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">reaching<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> full completion in 2027.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Eighty\u2011four feeders have been removed from load reduction so far, 31% of the March 2026 target of 271. This includes:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">13 in Limpopo and Mpumalanga<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">37 in Gauteng<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">8 in the Eastern and Western Cape<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">26 in the Free State and KwaZulu\u2011Natal<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">An estimated <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">107\u202f927<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> customers are now free from load reduction. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Remaining<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> customers still to be removed total <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">507\u202f998<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, representing 87.98% of the target to be cleared by March 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&#8211;ChannelAfrica&#8211;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"news-type":[44],"class_list":["post-22568","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry","news-type-finance","entry"],"acf":{"short_description":"Eskom, South Africa's (SA) power utility, says the country's power system remains stable and resilient, continuing to support economic activity as the country returns from the holiday period. ","published_date":null,"news_description":"Eskom, South Africa's (SA) power utility, says the country's power system remains stable and resilient, continuing to support economic activity as the country returns from the holiday period. 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