Johannesburg: Eskom reports that South Africa’s power system remains stable, with unplanned outages reduced by 763MW year-on-year and a continued decline in diesel usage.

According to South African Government News Agency, the power utility stated that the country’s electricity demand is being reliably met, reflecting long-term structural improvements in the generation fleet. The ongoing implementation of the Generation Recovery Plan is said to be strengthening operations and securing the nation’s energy future. The Energy Availability Factor (EAF) for the current month stands at 68.48%, marking an increase from last year’s 62.24% during the same period.

Year-to-date, the EAF has further increased to 63.65%, with the generation fleet achieving or exceeding the 70% mark on 39 occasions. These metrics demonstrate both recovery and sustained improvement in energy availability, reinforcing grid stability. The reduction in reliance on costly diesel generation has allowed Eskom to focus on more cost-effective prim
ary energy sources.

Additionally, Eskom reported that six generation units, equivalent to 2,341MW, are on cold reserve due to excess capacity. Last week’s diesel expenditure was R105.5 million, primarily used to protect and replenish emergency reserves, reflecting significant financial and operational gains through Eskom’s turnaround.

For the week of 21 to 27 November 2025, the average Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF) stands at 20.34%, down from 21.50% last year. Meanwhile, the Planned Capacity Loss Factor (PCLF) increased to 14.52%, aligning with Eskom’s maintenance schedule and ongoing efforts to enhance plant reliability.

During the same period, Eskom recorded an average of 9,711MW in unplanned outages, an improvement from last year’s 10,474MW, highlighting the growing reliability of the generation fleet. South Africa has experienced 196 consecutive days without interrupted supply, with only 26 hours of loadshedding recorded earlier in the year.

To maintain stable electricity supply, Eskom plans t
o bring 3,875MW of generation capacity online ahead of the evening peak on 1 December 2025. The Summer Outlook, published on 5 September 2025, projects no loadshedding due to sustained improvements from the Generation Recovery Plan.

However, adverse weather is impacting distribution networks, creating access challenges and delaying repairs in certain areas, particularly in Gauteng. Illegal connections and meter tampering continue to damage infrastructure and pose safety risks, with load reduction implemented as a temporary measure in high-risk areas to protect both communities and the power network.