Eskom has announced that loadshedding will remain suspended for the upcoming week due to ongoing improvements in the generation fleet’s reliability.
Loadshedding outlook for this week: Here’s what to expect
Eskom has confirmed that loadshedding remains suspended, marking 65 consecutive days without interruptions.
This stability results from the Generation Operational Recovery Plan initiated in March 2023 and the extensive maintenance work performed on the generation fleet.
Eskom’s reduction in unplanned outages has been a key factor in maintaining this stability.
The Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF) decreased to 28.37% from 1 April to 30 May 2024, compared to 35.5% in the same period last year, representing a 7.5% improvement.
Planned maintenance currently stands at 4,121 MW, consistent with winter maintenance plans.
The Energy Availability Factor (EAF), a critical measure of generation reliability, has also improved.
From 1 April to 30 May 2024, the year-to-date EAF increased to 61.0%, up from 52.7% in the same period last year.
Weekly EAF figures have risen from 57.0% to 65.0%, largely due to the reduction in unplanned outages, which averaged 12,500 MW in May 2024.
The strategic use of Open-Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs) has significantly decreased.
From 1 April to 30 May 2024, Eskom spent R1.52 billion on OCGTs, producing 221.02 GWh, which is 79% less than the R7.1 billion spent in the same period last year to produce 1,159.8 GWh.
The OCGT load factor for May 2024 was 2.18%, a substantial reduction from 28.05% in the previous year.
Here’s the loadshedding schedule starting Monday, 3 June 2024
Here is the official loadshedding schedule:
| Date | 00:00 – 05:00 | 05:00 – 16:00 | 16:00 – 20:00 | 20:00 – 00:00 |
| Mon 3 June 24 | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* |
| Tues 4 June 24 | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* |
| Wed 5 June 24 | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* |
| Thurs 6 June 24 | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* |
| Friday 7 June 24 | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* |
| Sat 8 June 24 | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* |
| Sun 9 June 24 | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* |
Readers from these metros can check the latest loadshedding schedule below:
- City of Johannesburg
- City of Ekurhuleni
- City of Tshwane
- City of Cape Town
- Nelson Mandela Bay
- eThekwini
- Manguang
- Buffalo City
Loadshedding outlook for this winter
With temperatures expected to drop over the weekend, Eskom has urged the public to use electricity sparingly.
Simple measures such as switching off geysers and pool pumps between 17:00 and 21:00 can help reduce demand and alleviate pressure on the power system.
Eskom’s winter outlook, published on 26 April 2024, anticipated unplanned outages at 15,500 MW and loadshedding limited to Stage 2.
However, current unplanned outages average 12,500 MW, 3,000 MW less than anticipated. Additionally, 3,500 MW of generating capacity is planned to return to service by Monday, 3 June 2024.