Friday, 28 November 2025: South Africa’s power system remains stable and resilient, reliably meeting the country’s electricity demand. This performance reflects long-term structural improvements in the generation fleet and the ongoing implementation of the Generation Recovery Plan, which is strengthening operations and securing the nation’s energy future.
The Energy Availability Factor (EAF)—which measures the percentage of time the generation fleet is available to produce electricity—stands at 68.48% month-to-date, a notable increase of 6.24% from 62.24% in the same period last year. Year-to-date, the EAF further increased to 63.65%, with the fleet achieving or exceeding the 70% mark on 39 occasions. These figures underscore both recovery and sustained improvement in the EAF performance, reinforcing energy security and grid stability.
The continued improvement in the EAF has significantly reduced Eskom’s reliance on costly diesel generation, allowing the company to focus more on cost-effective primary energy sources. Additionally, 6 generation units, equivalent to 2 341MW, are currently on cold reserve due to excess capacity.
Last week’s diesel expenditure amounted to just R105.5 million. This minimal usage was primarily directed at protecting and replenishing our emergency reserves, highlighting both the financial and operational gains achieved through Eskom’s turnaround.
Year-to-date, diesel expenditure remains consistently below budget.
For the period 21 to 27 November 2025, the average Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF)—which measures the percentage of generation capacity lost due to unplanned outages—is at 20.34%, a significant reduction of 1.16% from 21.50% during the same period last year.
The average Planned Capacity Loss Factor (PCLF) for 21 to 27 November 2025 increased to 14.52%, lower than the 17.60% recorded last year. This planned maintenance aligns with Eskom’s maintenance schedule and ongoing efforts to enhance plant reliability and operational consistency.
Between 21 and 27 November 2025, Eskom recorded an average of 9 711MW in unplanned outages, an improvement from 10 474MW during the same period last year. This year-on-year reduction of 763MW in breakdowns highlights the growing reliability and resilience of the generation fleet.
South Africa has now experienced 196 consecutive days without an interrupted supply, with only 26 hours of loadshedding recorded in April and May during this financial year.
To maintain a stable electricity supply, Eskom will bring 3 875MW of generation capacity online ahead of the evening peak on Monday, 1 December 2025. Today’s evening peak demand is forecast at 23 418MW, supported by 27 260MW of available capacity, giving the system a healthy 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
- Year-to-date, the UCLF further reduced to 24.40%, reflecting a week-on-week improvement of approximately 0.12% and remaining below last year’s 25.00%.
- Planned maintenance increased to an average of 5 403MW, accounting for 11.50% of total generation capacity, higher than last week’s 11.39% and lower than the 11.57% over the same period last year.
- Between 1 April and 27 November 2025, Eskom generated 1 041.56GWh from OCGT plants, incurring diesel costs of R6.185 billion, slightly lower than the 1 048.46GWh produced during the same period last year. Importantly, diesel consumption has been declining steadily month-on-month since May 2025, and the load factor for November month-to-date is 0.81%.
- The year-to-date OCGT load factor further decreased to 5.27%, a 0.07% improvement from the previous week and is lower than the 5.31% recorded during the same period last year.
Progress toward ending load reduction
The power system remains stable, with generation capacity exceeding demand. However, adverse weather is impacting Distribution networks, creating access challenges and delaying repairs in certain areas, particularly in Gauteng.
In addition, illegal connections and meter tampering continue to damage infrastructure and pose serious safety risks. Load reduction remains a temporary measure in high-risk areas to protect both communities and the power network.
Eskom began implementing its phased programme to eliminate load reduction ahead of its official launch on 13 November 2025. The initiative, which will continue until 2027, is expected to benefit approximately 1.69 million of Eskom’s 7.2 million customers across 971 feeders, with particularly high volumes in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal.
The programme’s main initiatives focus on extending Free Basic Electricity to additional households, rolling out smart meters to better manage demand and reduce equipment strain, and introducing 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, 28 November 2025, or communicate any significant developments as they occur.
ENDS
