Loadshedding suspension remains in force delivering more than 28 weeks of uninterrupted power supply and ongoing increasing efficiencies recording R12.03 billion in diesel savings year-on-year

Friday, 11 October 2024: The Generation Operational Recovery Plan continues to deliver on-going structural improvements and efficiencies to the coal fleet, successfully keeping loadshedding suspended for 198 consecutive days and providing uninterrupted power supply since 26 March 2024.

Eskom will reach 200 days of loadshedding suspension on Sunday, 13 October 2024, a period that includes Eskom delivering a loadshedding free winter between 01 April 2024 and 31 August 2024.

Operational efficiency has met summer expectations, with unplanned outages averaging 12 087MW during the past seven days, compared to 15 065MW in the corresponding week last year.

Eskom’s Energy Availability Factor (EAF) averaged 61% over the past week and 63.1% year-to-date. Top-performing stations such as Kusile, Duvha, and the peaking stations maintained an EAF above 70%. Additionally, two other power stations sustained an EAF above 60%.

Operational efficiency has been in line with the summer expectations, with unplanned outages varying between 10 500MW and 13 600MW over the past week. Today’s unplanned outages stand at 13 305MW, which is 305MW slightly higher than the summer 2024 base case.

Eskom’s available generation capacity is currently at 28 960MW, with an evening peak forecast of 27 018MW for 11 October 2024. Additionally, a total of ~1 425MW of generating capacity is scheduled to return to service by Monday, 14 October 2024.

Eskom announced in August its outlook for the summer period, 01 September 2024 to 31 March 2025, that detailed a likely scenario of a loadshedding-free summer outlook due to structural generation improvements. This remains in force.

Key Performance Highlights:

Reduction in unplanned outages:
• The Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF) remains at 25.4% for the financial year to date (01 April 2024 to 10 October 2024), improving from 34.03% in the corresponding period last year.
• This reduction in UCLF represents a ~8.6% improvement compared to the same period last year.

Ongoing Planned Maintenance:
Ongoing planned maintenance is at 5 521MW, aligning with our summer maintenance strategy to further increase the reliability of the stations in preparation for winter 2025 and beyond.

Sustained Energy Availability Factor (EAF) improvement:
• The year-to-date (01 April 2024 to 10 October 2024) EAF is at 63.1%, a significant improvement of ~7.7% compared to the same period last year (55.4%).
• The weekly EAF has marginally improved from 57.0% at the beginning of the financial year to 60.6% from 07 October to 10 October 2024, an improvement of 3.6%.
• This improvement is primarily due to a drop in unplanned outages (UCLF and OCLF) of the generation units.

Continued strategic utilisation of Open-Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs):
Our strategic use of peaking stations, including pumped storage and OCGTs, remains key in managing electricity demand during peak times, particularly during evening peaks (17:00 to 22:00).

• Eskom’s expenditure on OCGTs between 01 April and 10 October 2024 increased to R6.00 billion having generated 915.17 GWh, approximately 67% (R12.03 billion) less than the R18.03 billion spent last year over the same period for 2 946.86GWh.
• The OCGT load factor for 01 April to 10 October 2024 was 5.79 %, compared to last year’s figure of 18.63%.
• The OCGT load factor for 01 October to 10 October 2024 was 4.35%, significantly lower than the 11.54% for the same period last year.
• Diesel usage remains below the year-to-date budget.

‘Save Your Transformers, Save Lives’ campaign
While loadshedding remains suspended, Eskom continues to face network overloading issues in certain local areas due to illegal connections, vandalism, meter tampering, unauthorised network operations, theft of network equipment, and purchasing electricity from unlicensed vendors.

To prevent public safety hazards and the risk of network overloading which can lead to load reduction measures and extended unplanned power outages, Eskom strongly urges customers to avoid illegal connections, as this can negatively impact the entire local community. It is also essential for customers to ensure they purchase electricity only from authorised vendors.

Eskom implores the public to play an active role in safeguarding the integrity of 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, 18 October 2024, or promptly communicate any significant changes as soon as they occur.

ENDS