Eskom Keeps Loadshedding Suspended As Power System Stays Stable

Eskom has confirmed that loadshedding remains suspended. While the power system remains constrained, it is stable, with emergency reserves being strategically used to meet demand, particularly during peak periods.

The Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF) for the financial year-to-date stands at 25.85%, an improvement from 32.38% during the same period last year. This reflects a ~6.5% reduction, signaling improved fleet reliability.

Kusile Unit 2 is expected to reconnect to the repaired Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) system and main stack by month-end. Meanwhile, Unit 1 will go offline starting 31 March 2025 for similar work, in line with environmental compliance.

Eskom continues high levels of planned maintenance to enhance fleet reliability ahead of winter demand while meeting environmental and regulatory requirements. Currently, planned maintenance sits at 6,949MW.

Year-to-date (1 April 2024 to 27 March 2025), electricity supply was available ~96.4% of the time, a sharp rise from ~9.1% last year. Loadshedding was suspended for 348 days (8,488.9 hours), compared to just 33 days (2,321.3 hours) in the same period last year.

Diesel spending has dropped R16.93 billion year-on-year, marking a 50.8% reduction from the R33.35 billion spent last year.

Eskom’s Summer Outlook (1 September 2024 – 31 March 2025), published on 26 August 2024, remains unchanged.

An additional 4,280MW will return to service before the evening peak on Monday, 31 March 2025, further stabilizing the grid.

Key Performance Highlights:

• From 21 to 27 March 2025, average unplanned outages fell to 14,039MW, an improvement of 992MW year-on-year. Year-to-date unplanned outages average 12,374MW, 626MW below the summer base case of 13,000MW.
• Unplanned outages slightly decreased to 13,730MW (from 13,733MW last week). Available generation capacity is 26,710MW, enough to meet tonight’s peak demand of 26,326MW.
• Year-to-date Planned Capacity Loss Factor is 12.62%, slightly higher than last year’s 12.01%, indicating increased maintenance.
• The weekly Energy Availability Factor (EAF) rose to 57.44% (24–27 March 2025), up from 57.0% at the start of the financial year. Year-to-date EAF is 60.93%, a 6.4% improvement from last year’s 54.54%.
• Eskom spent R16.41 billion on Open-Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) fuel year-to-date, below budget, generating 2,764.87GWh—far lower than last year’s 5,142.63GWh.
• The OCGT load factor dropped to 20.83% (21–27 March 2025) but remains above last year’s 16.51%. Year-to-date, it stands at 9.35%, down from 17.34% last year.

‘Save Your Transformers, Save Lives’ Campaign

While loadshedding is suspended, Eskom urges the public to avoid illegal connections, purchase electricity only from accredited vendors, and report illegal activities to the Eskom Crime Line (0800 112 722) or WhatsApp (081 333 3323).