- Eskom extends loadshedding suspension for 121 days.
- 35,000MW available capacity milestone reached.
- Significant reduction in unplanned outages and diesel expenditure.
- Improved Energy Availability Factor (EAF).
Eskom has announced the continuation of the loadshedding suspension, marking 121 consecutive days of uninterrupted power supply as of Friday, 26 July 2024.
Weekend loadshedding schedule starting Friday, 26 July 2024
This period includes 87 days of constant supply throughout the winter season. Eskom has reached a significant milestone with 35,000MW of available capacity, a level not seen since 2018.
This achievement is attributed to the reduced unplanned outages and the success of the Generation Recovery Plan.
Eskom’s spokesperson stated:
“This ongoing stability is a testament to the dedicated efforts of our 40,000 employees in implementing the Generation Recovery Plan and extensive maintenance. We have managed to significantly reduce diesel expenditure and improve the reliability of our coal generation fleet, providing a key platform for the economic recovery of the country.”
The last time South Africa experienced such a prolonged loadshedding suspension was over four years ago, between 16 March 2020 and 9 July 2020.
Eskom has managed to decrease the Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF) to 26.5%, improving from 35.0% last year, representing an 8.5% improvement.
Unplanned outages have averaged 9,841MW over the past seven days, compared to 16,467MW during the same period last year.
Here’s a look at the provisional weekend loadshedding schedule starting Friday, 26 July 2024:
| Date | 05:00 – 16:00 | 16:00 – 20:00 | 20:00 – 00:00 | 00:00 – 05:00 |
| Fri 26 July 24 | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* |
| Sat 27 July 24 | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* |
| Sun 28 July 24 | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* |
What is the state of the power system?
Eskom’s power system has shown significant improvement due to various efforts and strategies.
The Energy Availability Factor (EAF), which measures the percentage of available power generation capacity, increased to 62.5% for the year-to-date (1 April 2024 to 25 July 2024), a 7.5% improvement compared to the same period last year.
This improvement is primarily due to a drop in unplanned outages, which have averaged 10,478MW over the past seven days.
Planned maintenance is ongoing, with 4,180MW of capacity being maintained to ensure continuous plant reliability.
This aligns with Eskom’s winter maintenance strategy, which has been crucial in achieving the current stability.
The strategic use of peaking stations, including pumped storage and Open-Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs), has been key in managing electricity demand during peak times, particularly during evening peaks.
Eskom’s diesel consumption remains significantly below projected figures for this winter and is considerably lower than in the past two years.
From 1 April 2024 to 25 July 2024, Eskom’s expenditure on OCGTs was R3.37 billion, generating 493.16GWh.
This is approximately 73% less than the R12.46 billion spent last year for 2,072.87GWh.
Will Eskom implement loadshedding this winter?
Given the current state of the power system and the ongoing improvements, it is unlikely that Eskom will implement loadshedding this winter.
The winter forecast, published on 26 April 2024, anticipated unplanned outages at 15,500MW and loadshedding limited to Stage 2.
However, the current figures are significantly lower, with unplanned outages averaging between 9,800MW and 12,400MW since 1 April 2024.
Scenarios where loadshedding might be implemented include unexpected increases in unplanned outages or significant demand spikes that exceed the available capacity.
Eskom continues to monitor the situation closely and urges customers to moderate their electricity usage to prevent network overloading.
Eskom will provide an update on Friday, 2 August 2024, or promptly communicate any significant changes as soon as they occur.