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

South Africa has now gone 161 consecutive days without 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 1–23, Eskom’s Unplanned Capability Loss Factor (UCLF) – 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 (PCLF), which accounts for scheduled maintenance, rose slightly to 12.55% from 12.51% a year earlier. Eskom said this increase reflects ongoing efforts to enhance plant reliability through structured maintenance.

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Between October 10–23, the utility recorded an average of 9 954MW in unplanned outages, down from 11 155MW during the same period in 2024 – 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.

During the same October period, the EAF improved to 64.28%, up from 61.44% last year – a gain of 2.84% 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.

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The year-to-date load factor for OCGTs fell to 6.06%, demonstrating a shift towards 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 ahead of the evening peak on Monday, October 27, and throughout the following 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 Generation Recovery Plan.