Power system remains stable with a 1 069MW year-on-year reduction in unplanned outages, EAF surpasses last year’s performance, and Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Unit 1 rejoins the grid to strengthen 24/7 baseload supply

Friday, 31 October 2025: The power system continues to operate reliably, meeting South Africa’s electricity demand effectively. The ongoing implementation of the Generation Recovery Plan is strengthening grid stability, improving operational efficiencies and providing energy security. The Open-Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) load factor decreased further to 0.0001%, from 0.23% in the preceding week. This reflects sustained efficiency gains.

The year-to-date Energy Availability Factor (EAF) rose to 63.06%, compared to last year’s 63.02% for the same period.

From 1 to 30 October 2025, the EAF increased to 65.9%, up from 62.24% in the same period last year, a notable 3.66% improvement driven by fewer unplanned outages and additional generation capacity. 

Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Unit 1 was reconnected to the national grid on Wednesday following major scheduled maintenance, strengthening 24/7 baseload capacity and improving both the EAF and overall energy security. Both units at Koeberg are online, with Unit 1 ramping up and Unit 2 producing 941MW. Once at full output, the nuclear power station will generate over 1 860MW, reinforcing Eskom’s commitment to safe, reliable, and efficient nuclear operations.

During the past week, diesel expenditure was R0.005 million, down from R7.84 million during the same week last year. This reflects a sharp reduction in reliance on diesel generation, signalling a shift toward more cost-effective primary energy sources.

Year-to-date, diesel expenditure remains consistently below budget.

From 1 to 30 October 2025, the Unplanned Capability Loss Factor (UCLF)—which measures the percentage of generation capacity lost due to unplanned outages—reduced to 21.78%, a significant 2.73% improvement from 24.51% recorded during the same period last year.

The Planned Capacity Loss Factor (PCLF) stands at 12.01%, slightly lower than the 12.87% recorded last year. This planned maintenance aligns with Eskom’s long-term maintenance schedule and ongoing efforts to enhance plant reliability and operational consistency.

Between 24 and 30 October 2025, Eskom recorded an average of 8 768MW in unplanned outages—an improvement from 9 837MW during the same period last year. This year-on-year reduction of 1 069MW in breakdowns highlights the growing reliability and resilience of the generation fleet.

South Africa has now experienced 168 consecutive days without loadshedding, with only 26 hours of loadshedding recorded in April and May during this financial year.

To ensure continued reliability, Eskom will return 2 400MW of generation capacity ahead of the evening peak on Monday, 3 November 2025, supporting a stable electricity supply throughout the week. Today’s evening peak demand is forecast at 23 379MW, with 28 533MW of available capacity.

Eskom published the Summer Outlook on 5 September 2025, covering the period 1 September 2025 to 31 March 2026, which projects no loadshedding due to sustained improvements in plant performance from the Generation Recovery Plan.

Key Performance Highlights

  • Year-to-date, the UCLF reduced to 25.16%, reflecting a week-on-week improvement of approximately 0.23% and remaining below last year’s 25.36%.
  • Planned maintenance averaged 5 312MW, accounting for 11.32% of total generation capacity, slightly lower than the previous week but 0.18% higher than the same period last year.
  • Between 1 April and 30 October 2025, Eskom generated 1 023.67GWh from OCGT plants, with diesel expenditure totalling R6.074 billion, compared to 947.34GWh generated last year.
  • The year-to-date OCGT load factor decreased to 5.87%, a 0.19% improvement from the previous week, but remains slightly above the 5.43% recorded during the same period last year.

Progress Toward Ending Load Reduction

While system stability continues to improve, illegal connections and meter tampering remain a concern, damaging infrastructure and posing serious safety risks. Load reduction remains a temporary measure in high-risk areas to protect communities and infrastructure.

Eskom aims to eliminate load reduction by 2027. Approximately 1.69 million of Eskom’s 7.2 million customers across 971 feeders, mainly in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal, will benefit from this initiative.

Key interventions include:

  • Expanding Free Basic Electricity to more households
  • Installing 577 000 smart meters by 2026, with full completion by 2027, to enhance demand management and grid stability
  • Deploying Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) to strengthen supply in high-demand and remote areas

Eskom calls on communities to support these initiatives by reporting illegal connections, using electricity responsibly, and protecting infrastructure. Through technology, infrastructure upgrades, and public cooperation, Eskom is building a safer, smarter, and more reliable power system for all South Africans.

Any illegal activity affecting Eskom’s infrastructure can be reported to the Eskom Crime Line at 0800 112 722 or via WhatsApp at 081 333 3323.

Eskom will provide its next update on Friday, 7 November 2025, or communicate any significant developments as they occur.

ENDS

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