Eskom Reports 70% Energy Availability as Power System Stabilizes

21 November 2025

Eskom Reports Significant Improvements in Power System Stability

South Africa's power system remains stable with the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) reaching 70.06% month-to-date, according to Eskom's latest update released on Friday, 21 November 2025. This represents a notable increase of 7.04% compared to the same period last year.

The country has now experienced 189 consecutive days without power interruptions, with only 26 hours of loadshedding recorded during April and May of the current financial year.

Key Performance Indicators Show Sustained Improvement

Unplanned outages have decreased significantly, with Eskom recording an average of 8,441MW of generation capacity lost to breakdowns between 14-20 November 2025. This marks a substantial reduction of 2,376MW compared to the same period last year.

The Unplanned Capability Loss Factor (UCLF) - which measures the percentage of generation capacity lost due to unplanned outages - stands at 17.54%, down from 22.65% during the same period in 2024.

Year-to-date EAF has increased to 63.63%, with the generation fleet achieving or exceeding the critical 70% mark on 39 separate occasions so far.

Reduced Reliance on Diesel Generation

The improved plant performance has significantly reduced Eskom's need for expensive diesel generation. No Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs) were used in the past week, contributing to lower operational costs.

Between 1 April and 20 November 2025, Eskom has spent R6.079 billion on diesel to generate 1,024.47GWh from OCGTs. While this figure is slightly higher than the same period last year, diesel consumption has been declining steadily since May 2025.

The utility currently has 11 generation units, equivalent to 4,294MW, on cold reserve due to excess capacity - a stark contrast to the severe capacity constraints of recent years.

Current System Status

Today's evening peak demand is forecast at 23,668MW, with 28,545MW of available capacity, providing a healthy reserve margin. Eskom plans to bring an additional 1,630MW of generation capacity online ahead of the evening peak on Monday, 24 November 2025.

Planned maintenance currently accounts for 13.31% of total generation capacity, slightly lower than the 14.08% recorded during the same period last year. This amounts to approximately 5,347MW of capacity temporarily offline for scheduled maintenance.

Outlook: Summer Stability Expected

Eskom's Summer Outlook, published on 5 September 2025, projects no loadshedding for the period from 1 September 2025 to 31 March 2026. This forecast is based on the sustained improvements in plant performance resulting from the Generation Recovery Plan.

While the outlook appears positive, the power system remains vulnerable to unexpected breakdowns or weather events that could potentially strain capacity. The continued stability depends on maintaining the current trajectory of improved generation performance.

Progress on Load Reduction Program

Despite system stability, Eskom continues to implement load reduction in specific areas affected by illegal connections and meter tampering. The utility launched a phased program on 13 November 2025 to eliminate load reduction by 2027.

The initiative aims to benefit approximately 1.69 million customers across 971 feeders, with high volumes in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal. So far, 52,082 smart meters have been installed against a target of 577,000 by 2026.

The program focuses on extending Free Basic Electricity to additional households, rolling out smart meters for better demand management, and introducing Distributed Energy Resources to strengthen supply in high-demand areas.

Key Terms Explained

Energy Availability Factor (EAF): The percentage of time Eskom's generation fleet is available to produce electricity at full capacity. An EAF of 70% means that, on average, 70% of Eskom's total generation capacity is available to produce power at any given time.

Unplanned Capability Loss Factor (UCLF): The percentage of generation capacity lost due to unexpected breakdowns or failures. A UCLF of 17.54% means that about 17.54% of Eskom's generation capacity is offline due to unplanned events like equipment failures.

Planned Capability Loss Factor (PCLF): The percentage of generation capacity temporarily offline due to scheduled maintenance. Unlike unplanned outages, these are controlled shutdowns necessary for proper maintenance and long-term reliability.

Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs): Quick-starting power generators that run on diesel and are used during peak demand periods or emergencies. They're essentially jet engines connected to generators and are among the most expensive generation options, costing roughly 4-5 times more per unit of electricity than coal power.

Cold Reserve: Generation units that are operational but temporarily shut down due to excess capacity. These can be brought online quickly when needed, typically within hours rather than days.

Load Reduction: A targeted power reduction in specific areas (typically townships or informal settlements) where illegal connections and network overloading threaten infrastructure. Unlike loadshedding which is implemented nationally due to generation shortfalls, load reduction addresses localized distribution issues.

GWh (Gigawatt-hour): A unit of energy equal to one billion watt-hours. For context, 1 GWh could power approximately 650,000 average South African homes for one hour.

Eskom will provide its next update on Friday, 28 November 2025, unless significant developments occur in the interim.