As of December 27, 2024, Eskom has officially gone over nine months without needing to implement load shedding, marking a major achievement for the South African energy provider.
This milestone is a testament to the utility’s commitment to ensuring more reliable electricity for the country.
Eskom’s Dedication to Stable Power Supply
Since March 26, 2024, Eskom has completed more than 275 consecutive days without load shedding.
This accomplishment highlights the progress made in addressing South Africa’s long-standing energy issues, thanks to ongoing investments in the Generation Recovery Plan and improved maintenance practices.
Eskom emphasized that the summer break, with many industries on pause, is a prime time for additional maintenance work to boost the reliability of its power generation.
The utility’s efforts have resulted in significant operational improvements, with maintenance activities averaging around 8,000 MW.
Improvements from Eskom’s Generation Recovery Plan
Eskom’s Generation Recovery Plan is showing noticeable results.
Unplanned outages have decreased by about 8.1% compared to the previous year, and the power utility has reported a remarkable year-on-year savings of R16.2 billion in diesel costs.
This marks a 65.1% reduction from the R24.89 billion spent in the same period last year.
Diesel usage remains well below the budget set for this year.
Load Shedding-Free Summer Outlook Stands Firm
Looking ahead, Eskom’s outlook for the summer period (September 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025) remains positive.
In August, the utility forecasted that the country would experience a summer without load shedding, including throughout the festive season, thanks to ongoing structural improvements in power generation.
Eskom stands by this prediction, reaffirming its expectation of a load shedding-free summer.