Friday, 14 March 2025: Eskom confirms that loadshedding remains suspended, supported by a stable power system and adequate emergency reserves.
As of today, unplanned outages are significantly reduced to 13 469MW compared to the previous week, while available generation capacity is 27 231MW, sufficient to meet tonight’s forecasted peak demand of 25 193MW.
Eskom continues to maintain high levels of planned maintenance as part of its efforts to improve fleet reliability in preparation for the high winter demand, while also meeting environmental license conditions and regulatory requirements. Currently, planned maintenance is at 6645MW. The strategic use of peaking stations remains key in managing electricity demand, especially during the evening peak period (17:00 to 22:00).
Year-to-date (1 April 2024 to 13 March 2025), electricity supply was available ~97% of the time, compared to just ~ 9.2% last year and loadshedding was suspended for 336 days (8,163 hours), compared to 32 days (2,214 hours) in the same period last year.
Year-to-date diesel savings have reached R16.76 billion, this reflects actual spend which is 52.9% less than the R31.69 billion spent during the same period last year.
Eskom’s Summer Outlook from 1 September 2024 to 31 March 2025, published on August 26, 2024, remains unchanged.
A total of 4 740MW will be returned to service before the evening peak on Monday, 10 March 2025, to further stabilise the grid.
Key Performance Highlights:
- From March 07 to March 13, 2025, average unplanned outages increased to 14 832MW, showing a slight improvement of 589MW compared to the same period last year. Year-to-date average unplanned outages stand at 12 405MW, 595MW lower than the summer base case of 13 000MW.
- The Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF) for the financial year-to-date is 25.85%, showing an improvement from 32.42% in the same period last year. This reflects a ~6.6% improvement which indicates increased reliability of the fleet.
- The year-to-date Planned Capacity Loss Factor is 12.61%, approximately 1% higher than the 11.94% recorded during the same period last year, indicating an increase in planned maintenance activities.
- The weekly Energy Availability Factor (EAF) increased from 57.0% at the start of the financial year to 58.42% from March 10 and 13, 2025. The year-to-date EAF stands at 60.88%, an improvement of approximately 6.3% compared to the same period last year (54.54%), indicating higher availability of generation capacity.
- Year-to-date Eskom spent approximately R14.93 billion on fuel for the OCGT fleet which is below budget, generating 2 372.78GWh. This is significantly lower than the 4 936.83GWh generated during the same period last year.
- The OCGT load factor from 7 March to 13 March 2025 was to 23.92% compared to last year’s figure of 19.38%.
- The OCGT load factor year-to-date stabilised at 8.83%, compared to last year’s figure of 17.31%.
‘Save Your Transformers, Save Lives’ campaign
While loadshedding is currently suspended, Eskom appeals to the public to avoid illegal connections, to buy electricity only from Eskom-accredited vendors and help protect 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, 21 March 2025, or promptly communicate any significant changes as soon as they occur.
ENDS
