SA enjoys over 250 days without load shedding

Eskom

Cape Town – Eskom has achieved over 250 consecutive days without load shedding, saving nearly R17 billion in diesel costs year-on-year.

The utility credits its Generation Recovery Plan and structural improvements in the coal-fired fleet for the milestone, which underscores efforts to ensure reliable energy supply and promote economic growth.

“The investment in the Generation Recovery Plan continues to yield consistent results, with load shedding suspended for 254 consecutive days since 26 March 2024.

“This achievement reflects the ongoing success of comprehensive structural improvements within the coal-fired fleet, reinforcing Eskom’s commitment to providing a reliable energy supply, enabling economic growth, and promoting long-term sustainability,” Eskom said.

As December holiday shutdowns begin, Eskom said it plans to ramp up maintenance to enhance generation reliability further.

“Over the past week, the average total unplanned outages have been at 11 038MW, a significant improvement from the 14 475MW recorded during the same period last year, representing a reduction of 3 437MW. [Friday’s] unplanned outages [were] at 11 834MW, which is 1 166MW lower than the summer 2024 base case, indicating consistently improved operational efficiency week after week.

“Eskom’s EAF [Energy Availability Factor] was at an average of 59.4% over the past week and 62.8% year-to-date, with top-performing stations — including Majuba, Medupi, and peaking stations — achieving an average EAF of 70% and above. Four other power stations recorded EAFs above 60%,” Eskom said.

An additional 2,600MW is expected to come online soon, maintaining Eskom’s earlier forecast of a load-shedding-free summer, the power utility said.

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