Good news for South Africans as Eskom stabilises power grid, halts load shedding

South Africa breathes a collective sigh of relief as Eskom reports remarkable stability in its power system, successfully navigating the high demands of the winter period. For nearly two months, the nation has experienced uninterrupted electricity supply, a welcome change attributed to Eskom’s diligent efforts under its generation recovery plan.

A Period of Unprecedented Stability

Since May 2025, South Africa has seen no load shedding, a significant achievement for the power utility. This period of sustained supply is a direct result of improved plant performance, reduced planned maintenance, and enhanced energy availability. Eskom’s proactive approach has ensured more generation capacity remains online, directly benefiting consumers and businesses across the country.

Managing Unplanned Outages: No Cause for Alarm

Despite a recent surge in unplanned outages, pushing the Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF) above the 15,000MW mark, Eskom has reassured the public that the system remains manageable. While this threshold previously signaled a potential for widespread load shedding, the utility has clarified that current figures include technical adjustments, such as the re-inclusion of Medupi Unit 4 (800MW) in the UCLF calculation, which was previously excluded due to its long-term recovery status.

“This figure reflects technical adjustments rather than a decline in performance,” stated Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena. In practical terms, the actual unavailable capacity due to unplanned outages was closer to 13,500MW, well within manageable levels. The UCLF has further decreased to 12,500MW, demonstrating ongoing system resilience.

Key Highlights of Eskom’s Performance:

• Zero Load Shedding: No load shedding has been implemented since May 15, 2025, with only 26 hours recorded in the first quarter of the financial year 2026.
• Improved Energy Availability Factor (EAF): The EAF, a crucial measure of operational generating capacity, remains just above 60%, with a month-to-date average increase to 63.29%.
• Strategic Diesel Usage: Diesel-powered generators (OCGTs) are being used judiciously during peak periods, with the year-to-date load factor declining to 10.70%. This usage is expected to decrease further as more units return to service.
• Generation Recovery Plan Success: Ongoing efforts under this plan continue to enhance plant performance, with further gains anticipated as Medupi Unit 4 and Koeberg Unit 1 return online and Kusile Unit 6 moves towards full commercial operation.

Winter Outlook Remains Valid

Eskom’s winter outlook, published on May 5, 2025, remains unchanged. It indicates that load shedding will not be necessary if unplanned outages stay below 13,000MW. While outages rising to 15,000MW could lead to limited Stage 2 load shedding, this would be restricted to a maximum of 21 days out of 153 days.

A Call for Responsible Energy Consumption

While the power system demonstrates robust performance, Eskom urges the public to continue practicing responsible energy consumption and to actively avoid illegal connections and energy theft. Collective effort is vital in maintaining this period of stability and ensuring long-term energy security for South Africa.