Improved generation performance strengthens grid stability and extends South Africa’s record reliable supply period

Friday, 20 March 2026: The generation fleet continues to demonstrate sustained improvements, strengthening grid stability and delivering strong and steady performance, thereby extending South Africa’s record stretch of reliable electricity supply. These gains, enabled by the Generation Recovery Plan, are contributing to long-term energy security and helping sustain an uninterrupted supply, an essential foundation for economic activity and growth.

The Energy Availability Factor (EAF) continues to remain consistently above 65%. For the financial year to date (1 April 2025 to 19 March 2026), the EAF is 65.38% — 0.47% lower than the previous week, yet it still reflects progress under Eskom’s turnaround strategy, showing a 10.82% improvement compared to two years ago. Notably, during this period, the generation fleet has achieved or exceeded the 70% EAF milestone on 83 occasions, underscoring ongoing operational stability and performance gains.

A 17% decrease in average unplanned outages has been recorded. 

Between 13 and 19 March 2026, average unplanned outages recorded at 10 739MW, showing a notable improvement from the 12 968MW experienced during the same week last year, a reduction of 2 229MW. This underlines the ongoing gains in reliability across the fleet.

Over the same period, the Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF), reflecting unplanned outages, was at 22.19%, representing a reduction of 5.08% compared to the 27.19% recorded during the same period last year.

During the same period, Eskom’s Planned Capacity Loss Factor (PCLF), which reflects planned maintenance, averaged 14.20%, similar to the 14.28% in the previous financial year, as part of efforts to ensure environmental compliance, improve reliability, and support long‑term sustainability.

In addition, 3 669MW is currently in cold reserve due to excess capacity.

For the financial year to date (1 April 2025 to 19 March 2026), diesel expenditure is R9.25 billion lower than during the same period last year, a 59.11% reduction year on year.

Over the past week, diesel usage contributed 2.32GWh of electricity to the grid at a cost of R13.19 million, resulting in a weekly load factor of 0.41%. 

The use of diesel this week was to meet the reserve requirements, as specified in the South African Grid Code.

Year‑to‑date, diesel expenditure remains consistently below budget and is expected to remain below budget through to the end of the financial year.

South Africa has now experienced 308 consecutive days without an interruption in supply, with only 26 hours of loadshedding recorded in April and May 2025, during this financial year.

To further ensure a stable electricity supply, Eskom will bring 2 985MW of generation capacity online ahead of the evening peak on Monday, 23 March 2026. Evening peak demand is forecast at 23 088MW, with 28 592MW of available capacity, providing a healthy reserve margin above current demand.

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

  • For the financial year to date, the UCLF decreased to 22.72%, reflecting a similar performance week-on-week and remaining well below last year’s 25.76%.
  • For the financial year to date, planned maintenance was at an average of 5 403MW, accounting for 11.48% of total generation capacity, more than last week’s 11.42% and lower than the 12.64% over the same period last year.
  • Between 1 April 2025 and 19 March 2026, Eskom generated 1 077.55 GWh from OCGT plants at a diesel cost of R6.395 billion. This is significantly lower than the 2 608.82GWh generated during the same period last year (1 April 2024 to 19 March 2025), which resulted in costs of R15.64 billion. Notably, diesel usage has declined consistently month-on-month since May 2025, and the month-to-date load factor stands at 0.85%.
  • The year-to-date OCGT load factor has further decreased to 3.73%, reflecting a 0.07% improvement from the previous week. This is significantly lower than the 9.02% recorded during the same period last year and remains below the set target.

Progress in Ending Load Reduction: 208 819customers no longer affected during peak periods

Although the power system remains stable and generation capacity continues to exceed demand, illegal connections and meter tampering persist, causing infrastructure damage and posing serious safety risks. In response, Eskom continues to implement load reduction as a temporary measure in high-risk areas to protect both communities and the electricity network.

To address these challenges sustainably, Eskom has launched a phased programme to eliminate load reduction by 2027. The programme targets 971 feeders and will benefit approximately 1.69 million customers across all provinces, out of Eskom’s total customer base of 7.2 million. Key interventions include the rollout of smart meters, the integration of Distributed Energy Resources, and the expansion of Free Basic Electricity support. These measures will be accompanied by targeted customer education initiatives.

Progress on key interventions

  • Smart Meter Rollout:

To date, Eskom has installed 470 134 smart meters nationwide, of which 183 956 (about 39%) have been deployed on load reduction feeders. These installations empower customers with greater visibility and control over their electricity consumption, support accurate billing, and significantly enhance the overall user experience.

Of the 183 956 smart meters installed on load reduction feeders, approximately 90% are concentrated in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu‑Natal, where network risk is highest.

The phased programme to eliminate load reduction programme targets the installation of 577 347 smart meters on load reduction feeders by March 2026, with full rollout on these feeders planned for completion in 2027. Current implementation represents approximately 32% of the total end‑state target.

The rollout is deliberately focused on high-loss areas affected by illegal connections, meter bypassing, overloaded infrastructure and widespread electricity theft. Eskom has undertaken extensive community and stakeholder engagement through ward councillors, public meetings, radio platforms and social media to support the implementation of the programme.

Despite these efforts, installation teams continue to face persistent resistance, including intimidation, violent incidents and repeated work stoppages. These disruptions have led to deployment delays, the redeployment of teams, and heightened safety risks for Eskom employees and contractors.

As a result, approximately 122 000 planned meter conversions have been delayed to date, undermining the stability and predictability of the rollout programme.

  • Feeders Removed from Load Reduction:

The total number of feeders removed from load reduction is 157. This includes:

  • 16 feeders in Limpopo and Mpumalanga (46% of the target of 37),
    • 40 in Gauteng (32% of the target of 126),
    • 9 in the Eastern and Western Cape (60% of the target of 15), with the Western Cape achieving 100% of its target.
    • 89 in Free State and KwaZulu-Natal (95% of the target of 94),
    • 3 in the North West and Northern Cape (33% of the target of 9).

Nationally, the 157 feeders removed represent about 56% of the overall year-end target of 271 feeders to be removed from load reduction by March 2026.

  • Customers benefiting from the elimination of the load reduction programme

With the feeders removed from load reduction to date, an estimated 208 819 customers are now benefiting, comprising 35 149 in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, 49 922 in Gauteng, 10 788 in the Eastern and Western Cape, 101 768 in KwaZulu-Natal and Free State and 11 192 in the North West and Northern Cape. The remaining customers still due for load‑reduction removal by financial year‑end are 199 187 in both Limpopo and Mpumalanga, 95 560 in Gauteng, 14 714 in both Eastern and Western Cape, 26 078 in the Free State and KwaZulu‑Natal, and 32 989 in the Northern Cape and North West provinces.

Overall, 368 528 customers, representing 63.84% of the 577 347 target, still need to be removed from load reduction by March 2026.

  • Free Basic Electricity (FBE):

Nationally, registrations are at 582 110 customers. The FBE beneficiaries figure fluctuates monthly.The 582 110 figure reflects a 20.02% increase from the baseline of 485 000 customers and represents about 28% of the 2.1 million eligible customers.

Eskom is harnessing technology, upgrading infrastructure, and partnering with communities to ensure a safer, smarter, and more reliable power network for South Africa.

Eskom calls on communities to report illegal connections, use electricity responsibly, and protect infrastructure. 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 data sources

The Eskom data portal provides a 24/7 365 snapshot of system performance. [Eskom Data Portal].

Since May 2024, Eskom has released a detailed power system update every Friday, providing a consolidated view of key areas of its generation performance through the Media Desk and across its social media platforms. This is a deliberate effort to improve transparency.

Eskom will provide its next update on Friday, 27 March 2026, or communicate any significant developments as they occur.

ENDS

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