Friday, 27 December 2024: Eskom has reached a significant milestone in its commitment to providing reliable electricity to South Africa. As of today, Eskom has successfully completed over nine months (275 consecutive days) without implementing loadshedding since 26 March 2024. This achievement underscores Eskom’s dedication to addressing the country’s energy challenges through its investment in the Generation Recovery Plan and enhanced maintenance protocols.
Eskom continues to utilise the December summer break to increase planned maintenance activities to further improve the reliability of its generation fleet as many industries have shut down for this period, with maintenance averaging at ~8 000MW.
The recovery plan significantly improved operational performance, particularly by reducing unplanned outages by ~8.1% compared to the same period last year. Additionally, there was a year-on-year diesel savings of R16.20 billion, which is about 65.1% less than the R24.89 billion spent during the same period last year. Diesel usage remains below the year-to-date budget.
In August, Eskom shared its summer outlook for the period from 01 September 2024 to 31 March 2025, predicting a likely scenario of a loadshedding-free summer, including the festive season, due to structural generation improvements. This outlook remains unchanged. Our year-to-date unplanned outages average is 11 900MW, which is 1 100MW less than our 2024 summer base case of 13 000MW.
Over the past week, the average total unplanned outages have been at 11 438MW, an improvement from the 13 980MW recorded during the same period last year, representing a reduction of 2 542MW. Today’s unplanned outages are at 11 154MW, which is 1 846MW lower than the summer 2024 base case.
Eskom’s Energy Availability Factor (EAF) averaged 56.23% over the past week due to increased planned maintenance, with top-performing stations — including all peaking stations — achieving an average EAF of 70% and above. Five other power stations recorded EAFs above 60%. The year-to-date EAF is at 62.37%.
With an available generation capacity of 26 906MW and a peak demand forecast of 22 474MW for tonight, Eskom remains on track to meet electricity demand. Four units with a combined capacity of 1 735MW are on cold reserve. By Monday evening, an additional 2 950MW is expected to return online.
Key Performance Highlights:
Reduction in unplanned outages:
• The Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF) is at 24.92% for the financial year-to-date (01 April 2024 to 26 December 2024), improving from 32.97% in the corresponding period last year.
• This reduction in UCLF represents a ~8.1% improvement compared to the same period last year.
Ongoing Planned Maintenance:
Ongoing planned maintenance at 7 979MW, is aligned with our summer maintenance strategy to further improve 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 26 December 2024) EAF is at 62.37%, a significant improvement of ~7.0% compared to the same period last year (55.35%).
• The weekly EAF slightly reduced from 57.0% at the beginning of the financial year to 56.27% from 23 to 26 December 2024, mainly due to an increase in planned maintenance.
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 26 December 2024 was about R8.69 billion having generated 1 379.03GWh, approximately 65.1% (R16.20 billion) less than the R24.89 billion spent last year over the same period for 3 981.89GWh.
• The OCGT load factor for 01 April to 26 December 2024 stabilised at 6.23%, compared to last year’s figure of 18.00%.
• The OCGT load factor for 01 December to 26 December 2024 was 15.51%, significantly higher than the 4.84% for the same period last year but this is seen as temporary given the current improvement.
• 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. Such actions can negatively impact the entire local community and result in hefty remedial fines.
It is also essential for customers to purchase electricity only from authorised vendors. For a list of Eskom-accredited electricity vending outlets across the country, visit:
https://www.eskom.co.za/distribution/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2024123Vending-outlets.xlsx
Eskom urges the public to help protect 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, 03 January 2025, or promptly communicate any significant changes as soon as they occur.
ENDS
