Eskom has maintained a consistent electricity supply for more than 98% of the time during the current financial year, thanks to ongoing technical improvements under its generation recovery plan.

According to the utility, these efforts have ensured a stable and resilient power system, with sustained grid reliability and operational efficiencies across the network.

SA has now had 161 consecutive days of no load-shedding, with only 26 hours of interruptions recorded between April 1 and October 23.

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“Generation performance has improved significantly, with the energy availability factor (EAF) reaching 70% and surpassing this level more than 24 times since August,” Eskom said in a statement on Friday.

Between October 1 and 23, Eskom’s unplanned capability loss factor, which measures the percentage of generation capacity lost to unplanned outages, dropped to 22.85%. This marks a 2.81% improvement compared to the 25.66% recorded during the same period last year.

At the same time, the planned capacity loss factor, which accounts for scheduled maintenance, increased slightly to 12.55% from 12.51% in 2024. Eskom said this increase reflects efforts to enhance plant reliability through structured maintenance.

The utility recorded an average of 9 954MW in unplanned outages between October 10 and 23, down from 11 155MW during the same period in 2024, and an improvement of 1 201MW.

“This year-on-year reduction in breakdowns reflects the growing reliability and resilience of the generation fleet,” the statement said.

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During the same October period, the EAF improved to 64.28%, up from 61.44% last year. This gain of 2.84% is due to reduced unplanned outages and additional generation capacity.

From April 1 to October 23, Eskom’s diesel expenditure remained below budget, as reliance on diesel-powered open-cycle gas turbines (OCGTs) continued to decline.

The year-to-date load factor for OCGTs fell to 6.06%, showing a shift toward more cost-effective and sustainable generation methods.

“These trends highlight ongoing efficiency improvements, a significant reduction in dependence on diesel generation and a sustained focus on cost-effective primary energy sources,” Eskom said.

Looking ahead, Eskom plans to return 1 715MW of generation capacity to service throughout next week.

The utility’s Summer Outlook, published on September 5, forecasts no load-shedding between September 1 and March 1, 2026, citing continued structural improvements in plant performance under the GRP.