15 November 2025

Eskom Reports Improved Fleet Performance: 182 Days Without Loadshedding as EAF Hits 70.75%

Eskom's generation fleet continues to show signs of improvement according to the utility's latest update, with South Africa now experiencing 182 consecutive days without loadshedding. The power system remains stable with several key performance indicators showing positive trends compared to the same period last year.

Key Performance Improvements

The Energy Availability Factor (EAF) has reached 70.75% month-to-date, representing a significant 7.59% increase from the 63.16% recorded during the same period last year. Year-to-date, the EAF stands at 63.48%, with Eskom reporting that the generation fleet has achieved or exceeded the 70% mark on 37 separate occasions this year.

Unplanned outages have decreased substantially, with an average of 9,115MW of capacity unavailable due to breakdowns between 7-13 November 2025, compared to 11,257MW during the equivalent period last year. This represents a year-on-year reduction of 2,143MW in unplanned outages.

Dramatic Reduction in Diesel Usage

One of the most notable improvements is the sharp reduction in diesel expenditure. For the past week, Eskom spent only R4.80 million on diesel generation, compared to R287.64 million during the same period last year. The utility reports that this limited diesel usage was exclusively for environmental compliance tests on Unit 12 at Ankerlig Power Station.

Despite this weekly reduction, Eskom has generated 1,024.47GWh from its Open Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) plants between 1 April and 13 November 2025, at a cost of R6.079 billion. This is slightly higher than the 998.79GWh produced during the same period last year, though the utility notes that diesel consumption has been steadily declining month-on-month since May 2025.

Planned Maintenance and Available Capacity

The average Planned Capacity Loss Factor (PCLF) for 7-13 November 2025 stands at 10.92%, lower than the 13.6% recorded last year. Planned maintenance averaged 5,319MW, accounting for 11.33% of total generation capacity.

Eskom reports having 28,153MW of available capacity against today's forecast evening peak demand of 23,568MW. Additionally, 15 generation units—equivalent to 5,645MW—are currently on cold reserve due to excess capacity.

Progress on Load Reduction Elimination

The utility has launched a phased programme to eliminate load reduction in high-risk areas where illegal connections and meter tampering are prevalent. This initiative, which officially launched on 13 November 2025 in Sandfontein village, North West, is expected to continue until 2027 and benefit approximately 1.69 million customers.

Key interventions include:

• Expanding Free Basic Electricity to more households
• Installing 577,000 smart meters by 2026 (37,482 already installed)
• Deploying Distributed Energy Resources to strengthen supply in high-demand areas

Outlook

Based on the Summer Outlook published by Eskom on 5 September 2025, the utility projects no loadshedding for the period from 1 September 2025 to 31 March 2026. This forecast is attributed to sustained improvements in plant performance stemming from the Generation Recovery Plan.

Looking ahead, Eskom plans to return 4,270MW of generation capacity ahead of the evening peak on Monday, 17 November 2025, which should ensure continued stability of the electricity supply throughout the week.

While these improvements are encouraging, it's worth noting that the power system remains vulnerable to unexpected breakdowns, and maintaining the current performance levels will require continued diligence in maintenance and operations.

Key Terms Explained

Energy Availability Factor (EAF): The percentage of time that Eskom's power stations are available to produce electricity at full capacity. A higher EAF indicates better plant availability and performance. The target for a stable grid is generally considered to be around 70%.

Unplanned Capability Loss Factor (UCLF): The percentage of generation capacity lost due to unexpected breakdowns and unplanned maintenance. Lower UCLF values indicate fewer unexpected outages and better plant reliability.

Planned Capacity Loss Factor (PCLF): The percentage of generation capacity temporarily unavailable due to scheduled maintenance. While this reduces available capacity in the short term, proper planned maintenance is essential for long-term plant reliability.

Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs): Power generation units that burn diesel or natural gas to produce electricity. These are typically used during peak demand periods or emergencies due to their high operational costs. Eskom uses OCGTs primarily as a last resort when other generation capacity is insufficient.

Load Reduction: A targeted power cut in specific areas where there is high incidence of illegal connections, meter tampering, or infrastructure overload. Unlike loadshedding, which is implemented nationally to balance supply and demand, load reduction aims to protect infrastructure in high-risk areas.