As the power system is operating reliably with reduced unplanned outages, Eskom says an additional 3 330 megawatts (MW) capacity is expected to return by Monday.
According to Eskom, the power system is showing ongoing resilience in meeting the winter electricity demand.
“This sustained performance is largely due to ongoing structural improvements in the generation fleet. Since 15 May 2025, there has been no load shedding, with only 26 hours recorded between 1 April and 17 July 2025.
“With 44 days of Eskom’s winter outlook period still remaining, the system remains well-positioned to maintain stability and meet demand effectively.
“When occasional system constraints arise, they are effectively managed through the strategic deployment of emergency reserves during morning and evening peak periods,” Eskom said.
Remains within the budget
From 1 April to 17 July 2025, diesel consumption was at 48.4% lower compared to the same period in the 2024 financial year and remains within the budget allocated for 1 April to 31 July 2025, helping maintain operational efficiency when needed.
As of Friday, unplanned outages reduced to 10 846MW, while available generation capacity was at 31 818MW.
“During the week of 11 to 17 July 2025, planned maintenance averaged 4 467MW. Over the same period, the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) ranged between 60% and 65%, with the month-to-date average further increasing to 62.31%.
“To further strengthen grid stability, Eskom is planning to return a total of 3 330MW of generation capacity to service ahead of the evening peak on Monday, 21 July 2025, and throughout the coming week,” the power utility said.
Unexpected outages
Between 1 April and 17 July 2025, the Unplanned Capability Loss Factor (UCLF), which indicates the percentage of generation capacity lost due to unexpected outages, stood at 29.53%.
This is about 2.6% higher than the 26.95% recorded during the same period last year. As of Friday, the UCLF was at 23.35% reflecting improved performance.
“The open-cycle gas turbine (OCGT) load factor decreased this week, reaching 8.60%, down from the 11.92% recorded during the previous week (4 to 10 July 2025). This indicates less reliance on OCGTs.
“The Winter Outlook, published on 5 May 2025, covering the period ending 31 August 2025, remains valid.
“It indicates that load shedding will not be necessary if unplanned outages stay below 13 000MW.
“If outages rise to 15 000MW, load shedding would be limited to a maximum of 21 days out of 153 days and restricted to Stage 2,” the power utility explained.
Are you confident South Africa won’t experience load shedding for the rest of winter?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
