Eskom has announced the suspension of loadshedding from 05:00 SAST following an improvement in generation capacity and the replenishment of emergency reserves.
Eskom insists loadshedding is a thing of the past
This comes after days of Stage 6 power cuts, which left households and businesses struggling with severe electricity shortages.
Eskom Group Chief Executive Dan Marokane assured the public that the country is moving beyond rolling blackouts.
“We maintain our guidance that loadshedding is largely behind us due to structural improvements in the generation fleet. Our focus remains on eliminating loadshedding as a structural constraint on the economy,” he stated.
Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa also acknowledged the frustrations caused by the latest bout of power cuts.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my most sincere apology for the gross inconvenience and disruption inflicted on households, businesses, and industry as a result of loadshedding experienced over the past three days,” he said.
The latest improvements are attributed to reduced unplanned breakdowns and a rise in the Energy Availability Factor (EAF)—a key measure of Eskom’s power generation efficiency.
Over the past six months, Eskom has reported an increase in EAF from 55.27% to 62.96%, with some periods exceeding 70% availability.
Is the power grid stable enough to avert another blackout?
While Eskom insists that South Africa is on a path to energy stability, concerns remain over whether the recent improvements are sustainable.
Eskom Group Executive for Generation, Bheki Nxumalo, stressed that the utility’s commitment to maintenance has been a driving force behind the turnaround.
“We remain committed to high levels of maintenance, and the results are clear. Our efforts have delivered a 99% electricity availability rate over Eskom’s current financial year, from April 2024 to February 2025, saving approximately R17 billion in diesel costs,” he explained.
Despite the progress, Eskom is still conducting planned maintenance on 6,660MW of capacity, which could affect electricity availability in the coming months.
The utility remains confident in its Summer Outlook, which was released in August 2024, and says its preparations for winter are already underway.
However, energy experts caution that short-term gains do not guarantee long-term stability.
Analyst Chris Yelland noted that while Eskom’s improved performance is commendable, external factors like fuel supply, unexpected technical failures, and grid demand spikes could still trigger future blackouts.
“Time and again we are reminded just how intermittent, unreliable and unpredictable coal-fired power generation is in South Africa. At about 80%, there is far too much coal-fired power in our mix, which is a big risk to the economy,” Yelland wrote.
For now, South Africans can enjoy a temporary break from loadshedding, but with winter approaching, Eskom’s ability to maintain a steady power supply will be tested once again.
