Eskom Sustains Power Recovery, Cuts Outages

South African power utility Eskom says it is sustaining improvements in electricity supply reliability, with stronger generation performance, fewer unplanned outages and significant progress in its programme to eliminate load reduction across the country.

The utility reported that its year-to-date Energy Availability Factor (EAF) rose to 63.05 per cent as of June 4, 2026, compared to 57.67 per cent during the same period last year, reflecting continued gains under its generation recovery strategy.

According to Eskom, average unplanned outages between May 29 and June 4 fell to 9,252MW from 14,907MW recorded during the corresponding period in 2025, representing a reduction of 5,655MW.

The company attributed the improvement to enhanced plant reliability, targeted maintenance programmes and stronger operational performance across its generation fleet.

Eskom said more than 700,000 households have already been removed from load reduction programmes, with full elimination targeted in seven provinces by October 2026. The remaining areas, particularly Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, are expected to be cleared by 2027 due to higher grid risks and network challenges.

The utility noted that South Africa has now recorded 385 consecutive days without power supply interruptions, highlighting the growing stability of the national electricity system.

To further support supply reliability, Eskom plans to bring 3,903MW of generation capacity online ahead of peak demand periods, while maintaining sufficient reserve margins to meet winter electricity requirements.

The utility also reported a sharp decline in diesel consumption as reliance on expensive open-cycle gas turbines continues to fall. Diesel expenditure for the financial year to date stood at R565.57 million, compared to R3.65 billion during the same period last year.

Eskom said the reduction reflects both improved power station performance and lower dependence on emergency generation.

The utility's Winter Outlook for 2026 projects no load shedding between April and August, supported by sustained improvements in generation availability and plant reliability.

As part of efforts to address network constraints and electricity theft, Eskom has expanded the deployment of smart meters and upgraded infrastructure in high-risk areas. More than 1.68 million smart meters have been installed nationwide, including nearly 300,000 in areas previously affected by load reduction.

The company said it remains committed to eliminating load reduction nationwide through investments in grid modernisation, distributed energy resources and customer support initiatives.

Despite the progress, Eskom warned that illegal electricity connections, meter tampering and vandalism continue to threaten network stability in some communities, urging customers to support efforts to protect critical infrastructure and improve electricity service delivery.