Loadshedding remains suspended due to a stable power system; ongoing high levels of planned maintenance continue and a 3.3% year-on-year reduction in unplanned outages

Friday, 04 April 2025: Loadshedding remains suspended, however the power system is constrained due to ongoing increased planned maintenance and high electricity demand driven by overcast weather conditions nationwide, which are expected to continue until next Wednesday. However, the system remains stable, with sufficient emergency reserves in place to manage peak demand.

The high level of planned maintenance aims to enhance fleet reliability for peak winter demand while also ensuring compliance with environmental and regulatory requirements. Currently, 7 034MW of the generation capacity is under planned maintenance.

The Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF), or unplanned outages, for the financial year-to-date (1 to 3 April 2025), stands at 28.67%, improving from 31.92% in the same period last year. This reflects a ~3.3% reduction and signifies a slight increase in fleet reliability.

At the financial year-end, for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, the UCLF improved by ~6.3% compared to the previous financial year (1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024).

Eskom has spent R3.4 billion on diesel over the past 30 days, representing a 2.1% decrease compared to the previous 30-day period. Diesel spend at year-end, for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, was  reduced by R16.51 billion. This reflects actual spending which is 49.5% less than the R33.35 billion spent during the previous financial year (1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024).

Eskom will be announcing its winter outlook in due course.

A total of 3 300MW will be returned to service before the evening peak on Monday, 7 April 2025, to further stabilise the grid.

Key Performance Highlights:

  • From 28 March to 3 April 2025, average unplanned outages reduced to 13 609MW, showing an improvement of 622MW compared to the same period last year. Year-to-date average unplanned outages stand at 13 733MW.
  • As of today, unplanned outages have slightly decreased to 13 608MW from 13 730MW last week. The available generation capacity stands at 26 735MW, with tonight’s peak demand forecasted at 26 578MW.
  • The year-to-date Planned Capacity Loss Factor is 14.05%, approximately 3.1% higher than the 10.93% recorded during the same period last year, indicating an increase in planned maintenance activities.
  • From 1 to 3 April 2025, the year-to-date Energy Availability Factor (EAF) stands at 56.58%, remaining nearly unchanged from the same period last year (56.8%). The EAF for the previous year (1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025) was ~60.6%.
  • Year-to-date, Eskom spent approximately R332 million on fuel for the Open-Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGT) fleet, generating 588.48GWh. This is marginally higher than the 400.93GWh generated during the same period last year.
  • The OCGT load factor increased to 22.69% in the past week (28 March to 3 April 2025), up from 20.83% recorded between 21 to 27 March 2025. This is significantly higher than the 2.17% recorded during the same period last year.
  • Year-to-date (1 to 3 April 2025), the OCGT load factor is 23.0%, higher than last year’s figure of 5.07%.

‘Save Your Transformers, Save Lives’ campaign

While loadshedding is currently suspended, Eskom appeals to the public to avoid illegal connections, to buy electricity only from Eskom-accredited vendors and help protect the power network by reporting any illegal activities to the Eskom Crime Line at 0800 112 722 or via WhatsApp at 081 333 3323.

We will provide an update on Friday, 11 April 2025, or promptly communicate any significant changes as soon as they occur.

ENDS

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